As much as we should be used to being a person, it seems that we don't. Yes, celebrations abound. But so do challenges to the heart. It is a struggle being a person.
We are not robots. We have ideas, directions, feelings; oh, and did I mention feelings? Colliding feelings toward others can conclude in much damage at the intersections of MyWay and TheHighway. It seems that life unfolds with much consternation as a result of the shear strain of personal conflict.
It isn't easy being us, is it? Sometimes not; yet we are worth the endurance!
Be encouraged. So often in our daily routine we don't get things right. At times some don't treat us right. We live in the midst of the fallen; the gripey, crotchety, angry, and the moody. Not so strangely, it isn't just them; but it can be verified it also includes us.
The shear strain of being a person can take its toll. But I cheer you on that you are a powerful dynamo led by the Spirit and backed by God to make a faithful positive difference for others...and for yourself.
Our lives are filled with glitches--theirs, ours, mine. I would encourage us to focus more upon supporting one another than complaining. Our days are loaded with personal flaws. We will get over them. We will be victorious because we have a Hero who makes us victorious. He paid our debts. Live abundantly.
Admittedly, sometimes we just get things wrong...like the wrong use of shear which should be sheer.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Sunday, October 18, 2015
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT PERSONAL GUILT
Guilt is not often on one's Bucket List. Maybe I should say, Never! The reasons could be many; one being that with such abundant supply one doesn't have to wait to experience it.
Personal guilt is not a goal anyone wishes to attain. Quite the reverse; we desperately wish to shed even its shadow. Yet, there is profound and monumental value buried within this dark hole.
Personal guilt forces us to back off from our vain accusations toward others. Christianity is suffering a slow death where judgment of others is the routine of one's day. And, my friend, it is very routine.
Contrary to how some might feel about this, backing off of targeting others about their sins does not mean we have gone soft on sin. No. It means we've gone hard on our own.
If we who wish to evangelize the entire world are ever going to gain serious footing in the realm of effective outreach, it will not be first found in raising funds, developing tactics, nor doing effective research. None of these. It will be because we first take a good look at ourselves, drop our ego-accusations toward brothers and sisters, and admit that our personal sin nailed the perfect Son to the most ugly Cross.
What I like about personal guilt is that it reminds me to dismount from my church high-horse.
Personal guilt is not a goal anyone wishes to attain. Quite the reverse; we desperately wish to shed even its shadow. Yet, there is profound and monumental value buried within this dark hole.
Personal guilt forces us to back off from our vain accusations toward others. Christianity is suffering a slow death where judgment of others is the routine of one's day. And, my friend, it is very routine.
Contrary to how some might feel about this, backing off of targeting others about their sins does not mean we have gone soft on sin. No. It means we've gone hard on our own.
If we who wish to evangelize the entire world are ever going to gain serious footing in the realm of effective outreach, it will not be first found in raising funds, developing tactics, nor doing effective research. None of these. It will be because we first take a good look at ourselves, drop our ego-accusations toward brothers and sisters, and admit that our personal sin nailed the perfect Son to the most ugly Cross.
What I like about personal guilt is that it reminds me to dismount from my church high-horse.
Friday, October 16, 2015
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT FEAR
Fear can be like cholesterol; there's the good and, too, there's the bad. What is there about threatening, intimidating fear that would have any value? Oh, so much!
Fear awakens us to our complete inadequacy. This is ultra-important for, otherwise, we will assume ourselves independent; not in need of God nor of others. This discouraging factor reminds us of how much we need assistance. Our Lone Ranger mode will not pass the tests for eventually we are overwhelmed.
What I like personally about fear is that just about the time I begin to think I've got a handle on life, fear puts me in my place as quickly as any factor. Fear serves papers which states that failure lurks and we better have something Larger-Than-Life leading the way into this battle of whatever moment.
I guess what I like best about fear is that it serves as a trigger-point to prompt me to remove my eyes from the lower fret to heights of the higher blessings. Regardless of how lonely one feels or how miserable one is, fear simply loses impact when we are reminded that Jesus obliterated the greatest display it thought it possessed; that of finalizing death.
What I like about fear? It lost.
Fear awakens us to our complete inadequacy. This is ultra-important for, otherwise, we will assume ourselves independent; not in need of God nor of others. This discouraging factor reminds us of how much we need assistance. Our Lone Ranger mode will not pass the tests for eventually we are overwhelmed.
What I like personally about fear is that just about the time I begin to think I've got a handle on life, fear puts me in my place as quickly as any factor. Fear serves papers which states that failure lurks and we better have something Larger-Than-Life leading the way into this battle of whatever moment.
I guess what I like best about fear is that it serves as a trigger-point to prompt me to remove my eyes from the lower fret to heights of the higher blessings. Regardless of how lonely one feels or how miserable one is, fear simply loses impact when we are reminded that Jesus obliterated the greatest display it thought it possessed; that of finalizing death.
What I like about fear? It lost.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THINGS THAT DON'T GO RIGHT
We must never miss the glory of one moment. Not. One. Moment.
Even in moments of devastation, I know this sounds so odd to one's way of thinking, there is gold in them thar hills. Our neglect of this zone just may be one of our biggest mistakes. We tend to miss some of life's greatest wonder by assuming struggle is of no value.
Could it be that misery could open us to life's greatest wonder? Embedded within every setback is a significantly available revelation. We must try to learn to never waste a good problem for within such is buried new concepts of discovery as well as potential. Even Thomas Edison made awesome discoveries due to repeated failures.
When encountering disruption, one can applaud or pout; be inspired or be angry. It is a choice. What I like about things that don't go right is that in each of these settings is opportunity for us to learn about the workings of God. Even His Son learned obedience through the things he suffered.
Even in moments of devastation, I know this sounds so odd to one's way of thinking, there is gold in them thar hills. Our neglect of this zone just may be one of our biggest mistakes. We tend to miss some of life's greatest wonder by assuming struggle is of no value.
Could it be that misery could open us to life's greatest wonder? Embedded within every setback is a significantly available revelation. We must try to learn to never waste a good problem for within such is buried new concepts of discovery as well as potential. Even Thomas Edison made awesome discoveries due to repeated failures.
When encountering disruption, one can applaud or pout; be inspired or be angry. It is a choice. What I like about things that don't go right is that in each of these settings is opportunity for us to learn about the workings of God. Even His Son learned obedience through the things he suffered.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT MY ENEMIES
I am a despised and hated man. Of course I'm dearly loved so many; but that first statement is no exaggeration. Those in my field get it. Some can't stand me because I am a pitiful failure in things of God...and they are so right. Others? They despise me because I don't agree with their doctrine.
One in my shoes constantly faces a very strange, often painful, terrain.
What I like about all of my enemies (and I have many) is that they are, indeed, dear and wonderful and treasured. I will no longer be duped to hate them back. Neither will I return sneer for sneer. The scene of Jesus on the Cross shows me who I truly am...nothing....more nothing than any one of my critics.
What I like about my enemies is that if they could see themselves from the viewpoint of the Cross they, too, would drop there stones of judgment. It took me a long time so see it for my own life. Their revelation will come to them.....and I will honestly, definitely, intentionally love them as they make that freeing trek.
What I like about my enemies is that what I receive from them negatively is what I've noticed I tend to give to others. Wonderfully, then, my enemies are merely mirrors of myself. The bottom line is that if we don't love even our enemies, we are far more in error than another we wish to accuse.
One in my shoes constantly faces a very strange, often painful, terrain.
What I like about all of my enemies (and I have many) is that they are, indeed, dear and wonderful and treasured. I will no longer be duped to hate them back. Neither will I return sneer for sneer. The scene of Jesus on the Cross shows me who I truly am...nothing....more nothing than any one of my critics.
What I like about my enemies is that if they could see themselves from the viewpoint of the Cross they, too, would drop there stones of judgment. It took me a long time so see it for my own life. Their revelation will come to them.....and I will honestly, definitely, intentionally love them as they make that freeing trek.
What I like about my enemies is that what I receive from them negatively is what I've noticed I tend to give to others. Wonderfully, then, my enemies are merely mirrors of myself. The bottom line is that if we don't love even our enemies, we are far more in error than another we wish to accuse.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT PEOPLE
People are weird. Have you not noticed? Our egocentricity competes not only with everyone else; but even ourselves. We have a knack of promoting ourselves while we put ourselves down more than any other(s). Sorta weird we surely are.
So what I like about people is that regardless of social class, I know that each is but a little child in a grown body wishing someone would simply like them. Do you see me? Would you find anything in me of which you would find approval? Do you like anything about me?
People are created in the image of God. We are creative, empowering, and fantastic. My heart goes out to every person I meet (every person I see) because my guess is that they have no idea just how majestic he or she are.
Clueless. They may have taken/given so many hits it is likely that the sight of their own favored wonder from Father has been stolen. Therefore, our job is to notice them, approve of them, and to....like them.
So what I like about people is that regardless of social class, I know that each is but a little child in a grown body wishing someone would simply like them. Do you see me? Would you find anything in me of which you would find approval? Do you like anything about me?
People are created in the image of God. We are creative, empowering, and fantastic. My heart goes out to every person I meet (every person I see) because my guess is that they have no idea just how majestic he or she are.
Clueless. They may have taken/given so many hits it is likely that the sight of their own favored wonder from Father has been stolen. Therefore, our job is to notice them, approve of them, and to....like them.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
WE ARE OFF TO CHURCH TO GIVE...AND TO RECEIVE
I remind you of a fundamental tenet of following the Spirit while we are on earth. We are to cheer others on, build others up, and most definitely love others. Today, when you are at your favorite congregation, the strong tendency will be to encourage those whom you know and those who cheer you on.
I, therefore, encourage you. Have eyes to see others; those to whom you don't ordinarily speak and the precious visitors. I know of little more offensive to our guests than to have any of us look them straight in the eye and then glance away simply because we are timid.
Visitors are likely among us because they, too, need encouragement. We must see them, look at them, and then do this outlandishly power thing....talk to them.
We are the church in order to give hope to others. In the process we receive the same.
I, therefore, encourage you. Have eyes to see others; those to whom you don't ordinarily speak and the precious visitors. I know of little more offensive to our guests than to have any of us look them straight in the eye and then glance away simply because we are timid.
Visitors are likely among us because they, too, need encouragement. We must see them, look at them, and then do this outlandishly power thing....talk to them.
We are the church in order to give hope to others. In the process we receive the same.
Saturday, October 10, 2015
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT FAITH
Faith is the strongest form of rebellion.
When active, it can create something from nothing as well as give life to dead issues. If those bent on walking out-of-step with societal norms had any idea how antagonistic faith is to the flesh-system, they would jump on this wagon in a heartbeat...and well they should.
Faith is not for the timid. It erases threat and defeats fear. Jesus, from the manger to the cross and through the grave, is its ultimate template. What I like about faith is that it dares to defy the voices of my inner self or the nervous herd as to what won't work, what can't be, and what will surely fail.
Faith is the ultimate bravery because it will successfully confront man's wisdom with God's foolishness... and win every time it walks onto the field....every time. Just ask those of Goliath's family tree.
When active, it can create something from nothing as well as give life to dead issues. If those bent on walking out-of-step with societal norms had any idea how antagonistic faith is to the flesh-system, they would jump on this wagon in a heartbeat...and well they should.
Faith is not for the timid. It erases threat and defeats fear. Jesus, from the manger to the cross and through the grave, is its ultimate template. What I like about faith is that it dares to defy the voices of my inner self or the nervous herd as to what won't work, what can't be, and what will surely fail.
Faith is the ultimate bravery because it will successfully confront man's wisdom with God's foolishness... and win every time it walks onto the field....every time. Just ask those of Goliath's family tree.
Friday, October 09, 2015
REAL TERRORISTS. REAL CONNECTION. REAL PLANS.
Threat seems to be on the rise....really. Nations clash. Casualties are high. But we do this thing that keeps real terrorists and terrorism at bay. We tend to have an inbuilt security system which promises ourselves that exposure to threat is for anyone but myself.
We know, informationally, a bit about ISIS, Putin, and Iran. Our ears are filled with their intimidation and our eyes see color-coded maps on the evening news. Threat is serious. It is everywhere. And, it is increasing.
Therefore, I ask us to get serious about the possibility that we are rubbing shoulders with terrorists who may have infiltrated our country. Might they take our change at a local business, deliver our pizzas, or stand in our classrooms? What should we do with a real terrorist in our midst where we are found to have real connections--but don't realize it?
Do we have a plan?
Yes. Yes we should. Yes we do.
We are to be sowing the seed of the Kingdom of God. We are to believe that people want to know God; even our fiercest of enemies. We are not called as Christians to go through life just hoping our family doesn't run into trouble.
It's more. It's risky, It's authentic Christianity. We are to love our neighbors which would include enemies being embedded. We are not to distance ourselves from community while carrying our Bibles to church. This is a most backward picture.
Fundamentally, I get it. We don't want trouble. No one does. But, dear friend, trouble is coming to us. Like it or not, want it or not, it is not a question of whether difficulty lurks. The question is whether we will live on mission.
I ask us to pray that we could meet/know a terrorist. I encourage us that we might love them the way Jesus has taught us since our most elementary VBS songs. One of the reasons Christianity is in a funk is because it has no where to go. The reason it has no where to go is because it carriers, us, don't want to go into all the world as our Leader expressed (and we can quote his expression).
The church will be most alive when in the ditches of humanity offering assistance at the risk of losing our lives. God didn't call us to go to church. He called us to be the church. Pray that you could one day meet some of these terrorists who may be infiltrating our country. And pray that when you do you might submit to the kindness of the Spirit to the extent they will realize they may have met Jesus for the very first time.
Making a difference in the world is not restricted to a gentle and safe theory in Sunday School.
We know, informationally, a bit about ISIS, Putin, and Iran. Our ears are filled with their intimidation and our eyes see color-coded maps on the evening news. Threat is serious. It is everywhere. And, it is increasing.
Therefore, I ask us to get serious about the possibility that we are rubbing shoulders with terrorists who may have infiltrated our country. Might they take our change at a local business, deliver our pizzas, or stand in our classrooms? What should we do with a real terrorist in our midst where we are found to have real connections--but don't realize it?
Do we have a plan?
Yes. Yes we should. Yes we do.
We are to be sowing the seed of the Kingdom of God. We are to believe that people want to know God; even our fiercest of enemies. We are not called as Christians to go through life just hoping our family doesn't run into trouble.
It's more. It's risky, It's authentic Christianity. We are to love our neighbors which would include enemies being embedded. We are not to distance ourselves from community while carrying our Bibles to church. This is a most backward picture.
Fundamentally, I get it. We don't want trouble. No one does. But, dear friend, trouble is coming to us. Like it or not, want it or not, it is not a question of whether difficulty lurks. The question is whether we will live on mission.
I ask us to pray that we could meet/know a terrorist. I encourage us that we might love them the way Jesus has taught us since our most elementary VBS songs. One of the reasons Christianity is in a funk is because it has no where to go. The reason it has no where to go is because it carriers, us, don't want to go into all the world as our Leader expressed (and we can quote his expression).
The church will be most alive when in the ditches of humanity offering assistance at the risk of losing our lives. God didn't call us to go to church. He called us to be the church. Pray that you could one day meet some of these terrorists who may be infiltrating our country. And pray that when you do you might submit to the kindness of the Spirit to the extent they will realize they may have met Jesus for the very first time.
Making a difference in the world is not restricted to a gentle and safe theory in Sunday School.
Tuesday, October 06, 2015
MY CAUSE. OUR CAUSE. A GREAT CAUSE
Groups, usually political is seems, salt society with strong calls for saving some portion of our great land. Preserve the trees. Preserve the whales. Preserve the prairie. These groups and more are both animated and intentional about their causes. Their voices are loud. Their drive is firm.
Causes are valuable. They create drive, intention, results. These eventually define who we are, what we are about, and where we are headed. It's what we basically eat, sleep, and drink so to speak.
While trees, whales, prairies, and other assorted causes are important, none are as paramount as those who strive to learn of God. We are to live to preserve the people.
People. Regardless of age, status, or lifestyle, people are suffering magnificent affliction. We must help. Is this not what churches are about? Is this not precisely what separated Jesus from the religious leadership core?
People. No one is exempt from repeated injury, pain, and offense. Not one person.
There is vast need for ministry to friends, neighbors, and strangers because each breathing person possesses an inner ache. Some are vocal, others keep quiet, while yet others can't figure exactly why their world seems to be marked with a constant something that doesn't feel right.
The church is at its best when it is about people. Numbers can look like people; but in the end this can be mere camouflage for appearance of concern without actually interacting with individuals. Ministries can be about people; yet can be a cover to be engaged in something we like without rubbing shoulders with the hurting.
I believe people are THE CAUSE worth complete sacrifice. Jesus would direct our compassion even toward our enemies because they have been a targeted, possibly abused, people whose training never included the grace-filled breaks yours or mind did.
Trees? Whales? Prairies? All are significant. Could it be that if we could build up the people that these, in turn, would be the foundational source to treat God's vast creation with even greater respect and love?
My cause, our cause, the great cause is to inform the dear hearts of a crowded people that each is valuable, important, and loved. Millions....have yet to hear those words.
Causes are valuable. They create drive, intention, results. These eventually define who we are, what we are about, and where we are headed. It's what we basically eat, sleep, and drink so to speak.
While trees, whales, prairies, and other assorted causes are important, none are as paramount as those who strive to learn of God. We are to live to preserve the people.
People. Regardless of age, status, or lifestyle, people are suffering magnificent affliction. We must help. Is this not what churches are about? Is this not precisely what separated Jesus from the religious leadership core?
People. No one is exempt from repeated injury, pain, and offense. Not one person.
There is vast need for ministry to friends, neighbors, and strangers because each breathing person possesses an inner ache. Some are vocal, others keep quiet, while yet others can't figure exactly why their world seems to be marked with a constant something that doesn't feel right.
The church is at its best when it is about people. Numbers can look like people; but in the end this can be mere camouflage for appearance of concern without actually interacting with individuals. Ministries can be about people; yet can be a cover to be engaged in something we like without rubbing shoulders with the hurting.
I believe people are THE CAUSE worth complete sacrifice. Jesus would direct our compassion even toward our enemies because they have been a targeted, possibly abused, people whose training never included the grace-filled breaks yours or mind did.
Trees? Whales? Prairies? All are significant. Could it be that if we could build up the people that these, in turn, would be the foundational source to treat God's vast creation with even greater respect and love?
My cause, our cause, the great cause is to inform the dear hearts of a crowded people that each is valuable, important, and loved. Millions....have yet to hear those words.
Monday, October 05, 2015
BEST BRAINS OR BEST EYES?
Working in the kingdom takes a special sort of leadership. God makes the wise foolish; He insists.
Those of us in leadership must ever be on the alert to such a backward seeming truth. God's foolishness is wiser than man's wisdom.
What will always be a need among us is not greater insight into the dynamics of the flesh-smarts; but the eyes to see where God would choose to register outlandish effectiveness. This awareness will come about only via the Spirit of God.
Ephesians 1:18ff; may the eyes of your heart be enlightened that we may see the hope, riches and His power toward all of us who believe!
Those of us in leadership must ever be on the alert to such a backward seeming truth. God's foolishness is wiser than man's wisdom.
What will always be a need among us is not greater insight into the dynamics of the flesh-smarts; but the eyes to see where God would choose to register outlandish effectiveness. This awareness will come about only via the Spirit of God.
Ephesians 1:18ff; may the eyes of your heart be enlightened that we may see the hope, riches and His power toward all of us who believe!
Saturday, October 03, 2015
WHY SO MANY AVOID LEARNING ABOUT GOD
Knowing God is the most fantastic experience known to man. I'm surprised, myself, at what I have and continue to discover that I had no idea was available to our hearts. The wonder. The curiosity. All of these and more...simply fabulous.
Why is it that in reality so many avoid learning about the Life-beyond-possible-life order? I offer thoughts fundamentally from observations made from living among wonderful and treasured individuals.
People-at-large avoid the pursuit of God because this is an invisible subject. It can feel silly seeking what, in our minds, can't be seen. Plus, such pursuit can feel far beyond one's comfort zone. Since we never want to appear foolish, we tend to stick to our social script which would include staying away from discussing/learning about the spirit world.
This way we never look bad in front of anyone. I find this especially true of any who are of fame. These strongly wish to preserve their image. The mission, then, seems to be to carry the look into the market place of one in control; certainly not a seeking of the Unknown.
This God-stuff is very real. If we are to relate to Him and Him to us there will be a very necessary contour of vulnerability along our paths. As flowers sprout from dead seed or bulbs into inexpressive beauty, so goes the spirit of man. As the date is engraved upon the tombstone, there goes the public confession of x amount of years from Jesus' birth.
I urge you to avoid making a death-bed move of panic toward God. Rather, make a life-bed action. I, being a very frail person, was significantly intimidated to open my Bible. I didn't know where to start...as a grown man. But God has a way of finding us when we seek Him.
I urge you to probe. It may take exertion. It will take patience. But I plead with you to come out of hiding behind your images of security. This life, death, next life thing is certainly real. Some are reading this who have significant public image. I understand your hesitation.
Therefore, I would say to you, "I get it." In the third chapter of John a leader named Nicodemas went to see Jesus by night; meaning he was sneaking along hoping to go unseen. Some of us live there. If you want, email me at trush@memorialdrive.org. We can volley ideas at your pace...and in absolute confidence. Others won't know.
I encourage you to drop the robes of hiding. Step into the waters of vulnerability. Expect to learn of Christian habits that are very poor image because they are man-made. You have already surmised such. Yet, these serve as mere distractions to keep us from inquiring as to whether this Jesus-concept has legitimacy. Each of us can honestly anticipate learning great things about God far beyond our greatest imagination.
Why is it that in reality so many avoid learning about the Life-beyond-possible-life order? I offer thoughts fundamentally from observations made from living among wonderful and treasured individuals.
People-at-large avoid the pursuit of God because this is an invisible subject. It can feel silly seeking what, in our minds, can't be seen. Plus, such pursuit can feel far beyond one's comfort zone. Since we never want to appear foolish, we tend to stick to our social script which would include staying away from discussing/learning about the spirit world.
This way we never look bad in front of anyone. I find this especially true of any who are of fame. These strongly wish to preserve their image. The mission, then, seems to be to carry the look into the market place of one in control; certainly not a seeking of the Unknown.
This God-stuff is very real. If we are to relate to Him and Him to us there will be a very necessary contour of vulnerability along our paths. As flowers sprout from dead seed or bulbs into inexpressive beauty, so goes the spirit of man. As the date is engraved upon the tombstone, there goes the public confession of x amount of years from Jesus' birth.
I urge you to avoid making a death-bed move of panic toward God. Rather, make a life-bed action. I, being a very frail person, was significantly intimidated to open my Bible. I didn't know where to start...as a grown man. But God has a way of finding us when we seek Him.
I urge you to probe. It may take exertion. It will take patience. But I plead with you to come out of hiding behind your images of security. This life, death, next life thing is certainly real. Some are reading this who have significant public image. I understand your hesitation.
Therefore, I would say to you, "I get it." In the third chapter of John a leader named Nicodemas went to see Jesus by night; meaning he was sneaking along hoping to go unseen. Some of us live there. If you want, email me at trush@memorialdrive.org. We can volley ideas at your pace...and in absolute confidence. Others won't know.
I encourage you to drop the robes of hiding. Step into the waters of vulnerability. Expect to learn of Christian habits that are very poor image because they are man-made. You have already surmised such. Yet, these serve as mere distractions to keep us from inquiring as to whether this Jesus-concept has legitimacy. Each of us can honestly anticipate learning great things about God far beyond our greatest imagination.
Friday, October 02, 2015
WHAT DIFFERENCE DO GOD MAKE?
Oh, I know the grammar of this title is not the best. Yet the point is what I'm after. Ron Hall and Denver Moore's great book, What Difference Do It Make?, perpetuates this morning's post. Does God make any difference? If so, what?
God makes a life-changing, life-sustaining, life-moving difference.
However, truth seems to be, God has been lost within and among His very own creation. We have taken over from here. We are doing our best to run the show. And while there surely are great moments of victory, every person lives under the umbrella of discouragement and dark times. There is no exception.
So....if a person is to yield to the God-concept, what difference would it make? Is there supposed to be a difference?
I love knowing and working with God. Here's some of the difference I see. Because of His kind of faith--not the boring church kind that so many experience--there is an entirely new kind of life at our disposal. Like what, Terry?
Faith believes that what isn't yet can become. This helps me help any who are bummed; even feeling hopeless. Jobs can end. Couples may quarrel. Dreams temporarily fade. Hopes can be found dented....if not wrecked. But faith has the courage to stare right into the center of any demise and believe that life can once again become real.
If and when one believes that Jesus arose from the dead...a live man died, was buried, and then came back to life...then such faith applied to any discouraging setting we face has reason for secure hope.
So many love life as long as it is pleasing. What I love about faith is that if the moment isn't pleasing, there truly is an invisible power to transform such into fruitful, valuable time. Because of the legitimacy of faith, even the darkest of days are pregnant with reason to believe that new possibilities can arise from the ashes of destruction.
Faith in the talented, skillful God is what makes the difference. Not our ingenuity. Not our do-goodness nor our be-goodness. Our active, functioning, creative God is the one who defies the brain-storm of the flesh. God can make what isn't become.
What difference do God make? He can take the celebrity or the homeless man or woman who are severely discouraged and lift them to a higher quality life. It's fascinating to me. Life isn't dependent on us getting things accomplished and keeping them operating at full steam.
Life is dependent on the Spirit of God for it is our inner spirits that face agony; not our elbows. And the Spirit of God lives...yes lives...to work within us in order to get us through the rough terrain.
That's....a part of the difference God makes.
God makes a life-changing, life-sustaining, life-moving difference.
However, truth seems to be, God has been lost within and among His very own creation. We have taken over from here. We are doing our best to run the show. And while there surely are great moments of victory, every person lives under the umbrella of discouragement and dark times. There is no exception.
So....if a person is to yield to the God-concept, what difference would it make? Is there supposed to be a difference?
I love knowing and working with God. Here's some of the difference I see. Because of His kind of faith--not the boring church kind that so many experience--there is an entirely new kind of life at our disposal. Like what, Terry?
Faith believes that what isn't yet can become. This helps me help any who are bummed; even feeling hopeless. Jobs can end. Couples may quarrel. Dreams temporarily fade. Hopes can be found dented....if not wrecked. But faith has the courage to stare right into the center of any demise and believe that life can once again become real.
If and when one believes that Jesus arose from the dead...a live man died, was buried, and then came back to life...then such faith applied to any discouraging setting we face has reason for secure hope.
So many love life as long as it is pleasing. What I love about faith is that if the moment isn't pleasing, there truly is an invisible power to transform such into fruitful, valuable time. Because of the legitimacy of faith, even the darkest of days are pregnant with reason to believe that new possibilities can arise from the ashes of destruction.
Faith in the talented, skillful God is what makes the difference. Not our ingenuity. Not our do-goodness nor our be-goodness. Our active, functioning, creative God is the one who defies the brain-storm of the flesh. God can make what isn't become.
What difference do God make? He can take the celebrity or the homeless man or woman who are severely discouraged and lift them to a higher quality life. It's fascinating to me. Life isn't dependent on us getting things accomplished and keeping them operating at full steam.
Life is dependent on the Spirit of God for it is our inner spirits that face agony; not our elbows. And the Spirit of God lives...yes lives...to work within us in order to get us through the rough terrain.
That's....a part of the difference God makes.
Thursday, October 01, 2015
THE MASKED BLESSING
Jesus is the Savior of the world. He is our hope. He is our strength; our life.
To follow him has somehow, over the years, been redefined to joining a church and being considerate to a neighbor when we can. Coupled with such a calling it can be noticed, too, that taking up our cross has unraveled; either somewhat or greatly.
Instead, demanding our personal comfort plays a bigger role than possibly any of us can imagine.
The masked blessing is that somehow a tremendous strength in the Kingdom of God remains front and center; that of suffering. Struggle is a life-providing factor. Resistance, as in weights at the gym, are not hindrances; but rather are health inducers. We must continually perceive interruption and interference as deeply meaningful.
Therefore, I do not speak of poor me-ism. I do address the inherent nature of the simplest faith-walk of dying for others that they might come to life. This dying to self has been/is being regarded more like torture; not blessing. Thus, it is being greatly masked from the sheer power dynamic intended by our God.
When the Word calls us to serve Him it is consistently couched in the strength of resurrection power; II Cor. 1:9, II Cor. 13:4, and Phil. 3:10. This blessing of power beyond imagination is being masked by an innate fear. We don't like discomfort.
We will want to evaluate our approach to God's liveliest system on earth. This may seem weird. It can feel all wrong. But to give up our lives that others may come to life is not only rewarding, it really is effective and fulfilling.
Unmask the blessing. Sacrifice that others have a good day!
To follow him has somehow, over the years, been redefined to joining a church and being considerate to a neighbor when we can. Coupled with such a calling it can be noticed, too, that taking up our cross has unraveled; either somewhat or greatly.
Instead, demanding our personal comfort plays a bigger role than possibly any of us can imagine.
The masked blessing is that somehow a tremendous strength in the Kingdom of God remains front and center; that of suffering. Struggle is a life-providing factor. Resistance, as in weights at the gym, are not hindrances; but rather are health inducers. We must continually perceive interruption and interference as deeply meaningful.
Therefore, I do not speak of poor me-ism. I do address the inherent nature of the simplest faith-walk of dying for others that they might come to life. This dying to self has been/is being regarded more like torture; not blessing. Thus, it is being greatly masked from the sheer power dynamic intended by our God.
When the Word calls us to serve Him it is consistently couched in the strength of resurrection power; II Cor. 1:9, II Cor. 13:4, and Phil. 3:10. This blessing of power beyond imagination is being masked by an innate fear. We don't like discomfort.
We will want to evaluate our approach to God's liveliest system on earth. This may seem weird. It can feel all wrong. But to give up our lives that others may come to life is not only rewarding, it really is effective and fulfilling.
Unmask the blessing. Sacrifice that others have a good day!
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
WHEN YOU'VE HAD IT UP TO "HERE" WITH PEOPLE
Urggh! People! Some people...anyway!
What is one to do when disgusting people live in our midst? How they bug us with their attitudes, their biases, their moods, and, oh yes, their sins. How shall we handle "them"?
The way we handle "them" is to realize we are far worse. Really.
When the log is taken from our own eye a log is never seen in any other's eye. It will always be a speck.
And we....we ordinary commoners are perpetually subject to the MRI of finding that we have labored intensely to clean the outside of the cup while the inside is full of crud and dead men's bones.
Yes, "they" do have their sheer weaknesses. But Jesus is quite frank when he insists that no one else is as blind to the reality of personal sin like we are. We have mastered avoidance of our own guilt to the point we give it zero thought.
When you believe you have had all that you can take of the missteps of others, it would be time to reevaluate. Oh how we tend to excuse and explain our own failures while harping with squint-eyed judgment toward anyone other than self.
Always, when loaded with criticism of another, think again....inwardly. At this point you will drop your accusations and begin a trek of eye-surgery to remove the one place that wields the blind-to-the value-of-others log.
What is one to do when disgusting people live in our midst? How they bug us with their attitudes, their biases, their moods, and, oh yes, their sins. How shall we handle "them"?
The way we handle "them" is to realize we are far worse. Really.
When the log is taken from our own eye a log is never seen in any other's eye. It will always be a speck.
And we....we ordinary commoners are perpetually subject to the MRI of finding that we have labored intensely to clean the outside of the cup while the inside is full of crud and dead men's bones.
Yes, "they" do have their sheer weaknesses. But Jesus is quite frank when he insists that no one else is as blind to the reality of personal sin like we are. We have mastered avoidance of our own guilt to the point we give it zero thought.
When you believe you have had all that you can take of the missteps of others, it would be time to reevaluate. Oh how we tend to excuse and explain our own failures while harping with squint-eyed judgment toward anyone other than self.
Always, when loaded with criticism of another, think again....inwardly. At this point you will drop your accusations and begin a trek of eye-surgery to remove the one place that wields the blind-to-the value-of-others log.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
FAITH IS NOT-GIVING-UP DETERMINATION
If not careful, faith will be grandly verbalized and yet casually used. We are to walk by faith; not just talk by faith. Operating by the invisible? I know of nothing more challenging.
Believing brings things into existence that aren't yet. This is weird. This, as well, is magnificently awesome.
Too often we simply give up on life, on people, on ourselves. What we need is push-back. Not the fist-fighting aggression; but the not-giving-up determination. Surrender is to be to God; not to difficulties.
Faith is the element that will transform relationships. New days dawn because we pushed back against the tyranny of depression. We are to believe in more than a believing system. We are to possess an assurance that God is alive and functioning among/within us.
Anybody can determine the misfortune of words and/or actions. Spotting negativity takes no talent. To believe that people and circumstances can majestically change? That's the guts of faith!
Walk by faith that things that you can't see can become. Anyone can operate from the lower life of what we see and the human reasoning that accompanies it. Faith, however, has a secret imagination and conviction that actually breathes life, new life, into dead situations.
Try it. You'll like it.
Believing brings things into existence that aren't yet. This is weird. This, as well, is magnificently awesome.
Too often we simply give up on life, on people, on ourselves. What we need is push-back. Not the fist-fighting aggression; but the not-giving-up determination. Surrender is to be to God; not to difficulties.
Faith is the element that will transform relationships. New days dawn because we pushed back against the tyranny of depression. We are to believe in more than a believing system. We are to possess an assurance that God is alive and functioning among/within us.
Anybody can determine the misfortune of words and/or actions. Spotting negativity takes no talent. To believe that people and circumstances can majestically change? That's the guts of faith!
Walk by faith that things that you can't see can become. Anyone can operate from the lower life of what we see and the human reasoning that accompanies it. Faith, however, has a secret imagination and conviction that actually breathes life, new life, into dead situations.
Try it. You'll like it.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
DARE TO ENTER THE GREATEST EXCHANGE.
There is this thing about humanity that is under attack by dark forces; spiritually dark forces. We are naive. Even those who work at developing faith honestly have doubts about such opposition.
As much as we discuss the topic of faith there is a basic flushing of the spiritual toilet when it comes to one certain topic. Of course the unbelieving world hops on this bus.
I speak of giving.
Have you ever wondered why this is such an extreme rub? Why is that believers fundamentally join forces with unbelievers over this matter. The truth is that we struggle to believe that if we give we will receive. Honestly, we are just not sure if God can keep His promise.
Yes. Man has taken over the wheel when it comes to giving to God. We would rather self-provide. We are, in saying to ourselves, managers. We are responsible. We convince ourselves that we can handle this; we know better than God. Too, we explain to ourselves why denying Him is the right thing for now.
But I say to us that our faith is severely tested on this court. Money or God?
I have really struggled in this area because I want to keep. The Bible teaches otherwise. It is clear that we will trust in One or the other; not both.
So here I am again facing this year's church budget which requires me to commit my increase. EVERY year I am strongly tempted to stay pat. But there's something about this Kingdom of God that won't let me sit on my current level of participating in the greatest exchange; cash for grace.
I can't get anything done on my own. I'm too stupid, too ignorant, too disqualified. His grace....His marvelous grace is what makes me/us tick. Nothing else. Nothing....
I urge you to give 'til you risk. You can't calculate grace; that element of His action in our walk. Should you feel touchy about this topic, it is no accident. This is the war for all minds because faith is genuinely trying to break through.
Succeed. Do what you can to win this war.
As much as we discuss the topic of faith there is a basic flushing of the spiritual toilet when it comes to one certain topic. Of course the unbelieving world hops on this bus.
I speak of giving.
Have you ever wondered why this is such an extreme rub? Why is that believers fundamentally join forces with unbelievers over this matter. The truth is that we struggle to believe that if we give we will receive. Honestly, we are just not sure if God can keep His promise.
Yes. Man has taken over the wheel when it comes to giving to God. We would rather self-provide. We are, in saying to ourselves, managers. We are responsible. We convince ourselves that we can handle this; we know better than God. Too, we explain to ourselves why denying Him is the right thing for now.
But I say to us that our faith is severely tested on this court. Money or God?
I have really struggled in this area because I want to keep. The Bible teaches otherwise. It is clear that we will trust in One or the other; not both.
So here I am again facing this year's church budget which requires me to commit my increase. EVERY year I am strongly tempted to stay pat. But there's something about this Kingdom of God that won't let me sit on my current level of participating in the greatest exchange; cash for grace.
I can't get anything done on my own. I'm too stupid, too ignorant, too disqualified. His grace....His marvelous grace is what makes me/us tick. Nothing else. Nothing....
I urge you to give 'til you risk. You can't calculate grace; that element of His action in our walk. Should you feel touchy about this topic, it is no accident. This is the war for all minds because faith is genuinely trying to break through.
Succeed. Do what you can to win this war.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
YOGI BERRA DOES IT AGAIN
I believe that if Yogi Berra would have known that he would die and move on out the same day the Pope finally came to America that Yogi would have made something of it.
Since he died, I mention it for him.
I dearly loved Yogi. I don't know of anyone like him. I met him once...briefly...and I could tell that he was not impressed. Go figure.
Since he died, I mention it for him.
I dearly loved Yogi. I don't know of anyone like him. I met him once...briefly...and I could tell that he was not impressed. Go figure.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
ANTI-RELIGION IS A RELIGION
I get it. The mockery of people who claim to believe in God is surely quite socially acceptable. Such a bandwagon is loaded. The smirks, the rolling of the eyes, the accusations of ignorance and inconsistency? I've heard a life full of insults directed toward me/any who claim to follow God.
I get it. And how often I know that such darts of complaint are justified. Guys like me seem to leave a trail of missteps; if not blatant contradiction to the very thing we espouse. For me? I admit failure.
Yet, I will not bow in hesitancy to such strong claims against the concept God has in place of rescuing mankind from the swarming pit of which we often find ourselves. He is more than religion. He is Life.
What has happened is society, in turn, has developed a religion of being anti-religious. I don't speak with blame. I get it. I get their frustration with us. I understand their injury when living among us. We should do better. And how we try. And, how sometimes we don't try and it appears we don't care.
But what the anti-religious religion doesn't get is that we are developing a faith in Jesus because we ran out of a self-improvement agenda. Our efforts to get it right on our own turned out to be futile.
We tried to save ourselves. Oh, how we tried. And those who choose to take cheap shots at us? Well, they were justified. Our high-minded looking down our noses did not come from the Spirit of God. Our bad.
We religiousers fail because we have bailed on humility and felt the need to parade our (self)righteousness. The anti-religiousers fall into the exact same trap; parading an attitude of smugness toward...the other smugness ones.
The Good News, the full-of-hope news, is that Jesus doesn't represent religion. He represents Life. Religion, don't you recall, is what executed him upon the Cross. Faith in God is so much different than faith in churchiosity.
Faith in God has an assurance of victory in the center of our demise. We need this. We all need this.
So just as those of us who admittedly need to park our high-horses and quickly dismount, so do those of the anti-religion religion. We cannot save ourselves; neither group can. Our mission is to find the one who can save us from this mess of being us...and Jesus can, does, and will.
Should you be one disgusted with the pride of people who are a deep part of church, your disgust most likely carries an equaled pride that you are not like us. Both fall into the ditch. So might it be possible that if we were to meet at the Cross we would find that both religions (the pro and the anti) would find saving grace that came straight out of Heaven?
I get it. And how often I know that such darts of complaint are justified. Guys like me seem to leave a trail of missteps; if not blatant contradiction to the very thing we espouse. For me? I admit failure.
Yet, I will not bow in hesitancy to such strong claims against the concept God has in place of rescuing mankind from the swarming pit of which we often find ourselves. He is more than religion. He is Life.
What has happened is society, in turn, has developed a religion of being anti-religious. I don't speak with blame. I get it. I get their frustration with us. I understand their injury when living among us. We should do better. And how we try. And, how sometimes we don't try and it appears we don't care.
But what the anti-religious religion doesn't get is that we are developing a faith in Jesus because we ran out of a self-improvement agenda. Our efforts to get it right on our own turned out to be futile.
We tried to save ourselves. Oh, how we tried. And those who choose to take cheap shots at us? Well, they were justified. Our high-minded looking down our noses did not come from the Spirit of God. Our bad.
We religiousers fail because we have bailed on humility and felt the need to parade our (self)righteousness. The anti-religiousers fall into the exact same trap; parading an attitude of smugness toward...the other smugness ones.
The Good News, the full-of-hope news, is that Jesus doesn't represent religion. He represents Life. Religion, don't you recall, is what executed him upon the Cross. Faith in God is so much different than faith in churchiosity.
Faith in God has an assurance of victory in the center of our demise. We need this. We all need this.
So just as those of us who admittedly need to park our high-horses and quickly dismount, so do those of the anti-religion religion. We cannot save ourselves; neither group can. Our mission is to find the one who can save us from this mess of being us...and Jesus can, does, and will.
Should you be one disgusted with the pride of people who are a deep part of church, your disgust most likely carries an equaled pride that you are not like us. Both fall into the ditch. So might it be possible that if we were to meet at the Cross we would find that both religions (the pro and the anti) would find saving grace that came straight out of Heaven?
Thursday, September 17, 2015
CLARITY FOR THE HUMAN HEART
How often we feel that we are possibly overrun by some sort of out-of-control weeds of life? Have our spirits been overwhelmed by accumulating and pressing demands? Would it help if Congress would pass a measure that would give us an 8th day for our week, a fifth week for our month, and a 13th month for our year?
Humanity is laden with complication. There, too, seems to be a simple reason.
Authors Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger relate the following:
We drift toward complexity. We drift away from mission. The two are related. When you are complex, you tend to be inward.....At the same time, when you drift off mission you will naturally become complex and complicated. Something will dominate your time if the mission of God does not dominate your heart.
We are making wonderful life way too hard. Reasons vary. But we must not dismiss the probability that we bring it on ourselves.
A good response is to live outwardly rather than inwardly. The constant inward evaluation breeds complexity. Thinking of others and how to assist them seems to clear the air we breathe. This might give us clarity for the human heart.
Humanity is laden with complication. There, too, seems to be a simple reason.
Authors Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger relate the following:
We drift toward complexity. We drift away from mission. The two are related. When you are complex, you tend to be inward.....At the same time, when you drift off mission you will naturally become complex and complicated. Something will dominate your time if the mission of God does not dominate your heart.
We are making wonderful life way too hard. Reasons vary. But we must not dismiss the probability that we bring it on ourselves.
A good response is to live outwardly rather than inwardly. The constant inward evaluation breeds complexity. Thinking of others and how to assist them seems to clear the air we breathe. This might give us clarity for the human heart.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
LET YOU YES BE YES AND YOUR NO BE NO
We are living in excessive measures of something that seems to be too much. What is it exactly?
Over-working? Over-thinking? Over-eating?
Of course I'm headed for something to support my thought for the day. So here goes.
I raise important questions:
Over-working? Over-thinking? Over-eating?
Of course I'm headed for something to support my thought for the day. So here goes.
I raise important questions:
- Are we over-saturated with incoming information?
- Are we losing contact with community because we are in such enormous contact?
- Have we lost touch with people because we have so many tools with which to connect with them?
What's weird is that my posting may be distracting you from something. Not necessarily; but possibly?
I've known (and said) for a long time now that some of our most meaningful work is found within the realm of interruption. Yet, I want to ponder the other side of that coin questioning whether steady disruption negates some of our well-intended efforts.
This post is not a complaint. I love people. We love people. I'm merely asking us to consider ways to calm our hyper-active pace; perhaps weigh whether we need to streamline it into a more productive pace. As much as we feel the pressure to say Y-E-S to others it may be a crucial turning point if we could learn to equally say N-O.
I know Mary found herself criticized by her sister Martha for being a perceived slackard. And wouldn't you know Martha (upon her brother's death) declared Jesus to be in the same camp as her sister?
I marvel...still...really...marvel at Jesus. He had a way of being true to the Spirit within. He could say yes...and no. He could agree...and disagree. There was a cool 'n' calm about him that, to me, goes unmatched.
Jesus must have understood the pace of life a bit better than me. Clearly he possessed an aggressive calm that effectively aided in sorting the need to be attentive without the crazy pace of fret. He knew how to let each YES and NO stand on their own. I need that...still.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
WHAT IS "BELIEVING IN GOD"?
For a society to believe in an invisible entity known as God seems to be a rather risky proposition; if not completely absurd. To be honest, multitudes don't buy it. I get it. Yet, multitudes do. I get that one, too.
Explaining belief in God is surely a challenge because the entire concept is cryptic and spelled M.Y.S.T.E.R.Y. For those who struggle to believe I would want you to hear of my empathy. Even we who believe struggle to believe.
Faith is not a silly walk in the park whim because we feel good about a moment. It has a much deeper and wider dimension. Faith is attentive and concentrated labor in the realm of the unseen. This, of course, sets us up for both ridicule and even slander.
Believing in God is a yielding to Him with an invisible intensity that calls for more than the handy mechanisms of mood swings. Faith assures us that things which aren't yet can come about while being certain that the unseen realm of reality is a prominent part of our existence.
Believing in God is much more than a gambling whirl of the wheel hoping the spinner stops on Heaven. It is absolute hope based upon what we already see with our earth-eyes like planted seed arising to become much more in beauty and value. Whether an ear of corn or a daisy, the life we see is a result of death to a seed. That be us!
Believing in God says that death isn't the end; but is surely a new beginning. Yet, there's more.
We tend to make Him out to be the good stuff which is to happen beyond the cemetery. But to be born again is to take life now and watch God make something of it; of us. Some believe life can be better..now. Others believe not.
Don't you think it odd that so often life goes according to one's belief?
Believing in God is our deepest challenge. Is He or isn't He? The answer will only come by faith. Either conclusion--does exist/doesn't exist--will be formed by the invisible process of believing.
Believing in God means that He has the ability to live within us and produce a life that we cannot possibly coerce on our own. He is an entirely new and unexplainable power given to men and women who choose to believe that He is more than true; He is life...now.
Explaining belief in God is surely a challenge because the entire concept is cryptic and spelled M.Y.S.T.E.R.Y. For those who struggle to believe I would want you to hear of my empathy. Even we who believe struggle to believe.
Faith is not a silly walk in the park whim because we feel good about a moment. It has a much deeper and wider dimension. Faith is attentive and concentrated labor in the realm of the unseen. This, of course, sets us up for both ridicule and even slander.
Believing in God is a yielding to Him with an invisible intensity that calls for more than the handy mechanisms of mood swings. Faith assures us that things which aren't yet can come about while being certain that the unseen realm of reality is a prominent part of our existence.
Believing in God is much more than a gambling whirl of the wheel hoping the spinner stops on Heaven. It is absolute hope based upon what we already see with our earth-eyes like planted seed arising to become much more in beauty and value. Whether an ear of corn or a daisy, the life we see is a result of death to a seed. That be us!
Believing in God says that death isn't the end; but is surely a new beginning. Yet, there's more.
We tend to make Him out to be the good stuff which is to happen beyond the cemetery. But to be born again is to take life now and watch God make something of it; of us. Some believe life can be better..now. Others believe not.
Don't you think it odd that so often life goes according to one's belief?
Believing in God is our deepest challenge. Is He or isn't He? The answer will only come by faith. Either conclusion--does exist/doesn't exist--will be formed by the invisible process of believing.
Believing in God means that He has the ability to live within us and produce a life that we cannot possibly coerce on our own. He is an entirely new and unexplainable power given to men and women who choose to believe that He is more than true; He is life...now.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
PERSONAL SATISFACTION
Life is a challenge. We tend to live for the ups while fending of the pestering downs. How shall we ever make significant progress against this rising tide that pounds into our hearts that we are not enough?
It seems the solution, once again, is found in the life of the Son of God. He took the accusations and the punishment. He absorbed enemy sins (including yours/mine). And then he died in public shame.
And then he came back to life. I said, AND THEN HE CAME BACK TO LIFE! (I thought we had become a little bit immune to such a fantastic truth.)
Personal satisfaction is solved (and claimed) when we shrink in order that God might be given glory. We become less; He becomes more visible within us. Our struggle for effectiveness has not been due to some one or some thing. Dissatisfaction has always been the root cause when we balk at the call to decrease that He might increase.
Dear reader, I root for you. You are a valued child of God. And you are my friend. I want you to feel good--no, great--about who you are and who you GET to be. Be encouraged to give yourself away that you may find abundant life. Jesus has taught this from day one.
What we sow comes back. Friendship...comin' at ya. Understanding? That, too. Attention? What we sow and water is what God raises as a crop to bless us. The reverse is just as true. Sow no sympathy. Plant no compassion. Give no concern for others. What you get is nothing (because there was a failure to plant); no sympathy, no compassion, and no concern for you.
Personal satisfaction comes by caring outwardly for others. God will, then, see that our attention toward others will come back to bless us....in abundance. It's called caring for one another.
These me first generations aren't experiencing a very rich life. Simultaneously, the others first folk are thriving in happiness. Not only that, but the contentment provided from above is a treasured commodity. Personal satisfaction is embedded in the effort to give ourselves away that others be strengthened and assured that they are most valued.
It seems the solution, once again, is found in the life of the Son of God. He took the accusations and the punishment. He absorbed enemy sins (including yours/mine). And then he died in public shame.
And then he came back to life. I said, AND THEN HE CAME BACK TO LIFE! (I thought we had become a little bit immune to such a fantastic truth.)
Personal satisfaction is solved (and claimed) when we shrink in order that God might be given glory. We become less; He becomes more visible within us. Our struggle for effectiveness has not been due to some one or some thing. Dissatisfaction has always been the root cause when we balk at the call to decrease that He might increase.
Dear reader, I root for you. You are a valued child of God. And you are my friend. I want you to feel good--no, great--about who you are and who you GET to be. Be encouraged to give yourself away that you may find abundant life. Jesus has taught this from day one.
What we sow comes back. Friendship...comin' at ya. Understanding? That, too. Attention? What we sow and water is what God raises as a crop to bless us. The reverse is just as true. Sow no sympathy. Plant no compassion. Give no concern for others. What you get is nothing (because there was a failure to plant); no sympathy, no compassion, and no concern for you.
Personal satisfaction comes by caring outwardly for others. God will, then, see that our attention toward others will come back to bless us....in abundance. It's called caring for one another.
These me first generations aren't experiencing a very rich life. Simultaneously, the others first folk are thriving in happiness. Not only that, but the contentment provided from above is a treasured commodity. Personal satisfaction is embedded in the effort to give ourselves away that others be strengthened and assured that they are most valued.
Friday, September 11, 2015
THE THORN. THE PAIN. THE SECRET RICHES.
If one were to tell you that a vast oil reservoir were just beneath your back yard and for you to drill would result in wealth for the rest of your life, would you be interested in hearing more of what it would take to claim it? So it is with another part of our walk. It is rich. It is thorough. Yet, it is a secret that, even when proclaimed, no one wants.
There is a quality, or maybe a characteristic, that 100% of men and women possess. Not only do we not notice it as power; but when it is noted we do our best to shed ourselves of it. In essence we reject the strongest thing about our lives; not occasionally, but repeatedly. I speak of our weaknesses.
Weakness is a secret power which only works in the Kingdom of God. This is fact. Read II Corinthians 12:7-11. If we will believe it we will become remarkably--never to get over it--blessed. Note these truths:
There is a quality, or maybe a characteristic, that 100% of men and women possess. Not only do we not notice it as power; but when it is noted we do our best to shed ourselves of it. In essence we reject the strongest thing about our lives; not occasionally, but repeatedly. I speak of our weaknesses.
Weakness is a secret power which only works in the Kingdom of God. This is fact. Read II Corinthians 12:7-11. If we will believe it we will become remarkably--never to get over it--blessed. Note these truths:
- Thorns are present to keep us from believing we can do life on our own.
- Our power is always found in our weaknesses.
- Contentment comes, when understanding that we are nobodies, through the very things that tend to make us miserable; weaknesses, insults, distresses, persecutions, and difficulties.
Note: each of the miseries listed in #3 are the very things that usually cause us to shut down; not open up. These are the nightmares to our otherwise decent lives...we think. We are so upside-down with God's kingdom that we believe that if we could but shed these struggles we would be...content.
The opposite, however, is remarkably true. It would be good to note that we actually spend a significant part of our awake time trying to rid ourselves of the very things which are gold to our walk. W A K E U P T O T H I S S E C R E T because the trail of hardship isn't going to change. Our perception of it must.
Power is never within our self-confidence for eventually it will begin to leak. A firing here, a divorce there, a mistake elsewhere might leave one feeling like a failure. While we don't seek such moments, what we could do with them and a wide range of other disappointments is to yield to the secret of weaknesses.
These and other thorns jab, puncture, and drain the heart. Be directed to look upon the Cross where the Son of God is being tortured. Begin to list the anguish, the misery, and the gasping for oxygen. Yes, watch his best friends flee from the murder scene despondent as Jesus' aforementioned promises seem to be dissipating before their very eyes. He....he....died.
The secret of life is always found within the framework of things going wrong. Some believe it. Others fight against it. Power is still perfected in weakness. There is not better route to success.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
FEELING LIKE YOUR RESERVATIONS IN HEAVEN WILL BE CANCELLED?
Sure wish that the idea of heaven would be true....but even then you would feel like you will be headed for Hell?
Oh how I realize this comment is just so abrupt. I would prefer to apologize as well as not address it. But in reality, there are so many very wonderful quality people who feel it is a waste of time trying to get to heaven. In their words, I would not be good enough. There is no hope for me.
I hear such phrases from the poor to the rich; from the nobody to the famous. I want to change this unnecessary perception for any who possess a feeling of being so very sinful that their reservations in Heaven have most likely been cancelled.
The very recall of Jesus on the Cross assures us of two things; (1) we can't even fathom us at our very worst and (2) we can't fathom how much God loved us to put His Son through that torture in order to rescue us. So while it is noble that we be honest about our desperate lack, we must be assured that God has us measured for personal failure long before we were born.
God is not caught off-guard by our immense ability to disobey.
It is this truth that could lean us in His direction. He loves us as sinners. He saves us; not after we straighten ourselves up, but before we even realize what a mess we are. God killed His own heart because He treasures His children.
You can be lost if you choose. You can dismiss the powerful and profound work on that hill one terrible day. But you don't have to. Anyone can have hope of living eternally. Such a hope isn't for the good ones in some churches. It isn't relegated to those who are most sacrificial. Rather, eternal life is for the miserable hyper-sinner who could not save him/herself....which would include...me.
No one is too far gone. No one is exempt from reason to hope. No one is so bad that God can't save. That would include you or your relative or your neighbor.
Maybe it would be worthwhile for some of you to reconsider. This Jesus didn't hold a pep rally for those who like enthusiastic gatherings. No, he volunteered to die in our stead because he knew full-well we could not compensate for the misery we brought to earth while here.
Good enough? No one is. Join the crowd...and research what it means to believe in a God who gives Himself up for His children. It's quite the success story. And you are very much included in the story-line.
Oh how I realize this comment is just so abrupt. I would prefer to apologize as well as not address it. But in reality, there are so many very wonderful quality people who feel it is a waste of time trying to get to heaven. In their words, I would not be good enough. There is no hope for me.
I hear such phrases from the poor to the rich; from the nobody to the famous. I want to change this unnecessary perception for any who possess a feeling of being so very sinful that their reservations in Heaven have most likely been cancelled.
The very recall of Jesus on the Cross assures us of two things; (1) we can't even fathom us at our very worst and (2) we can't fathom how much God loved us to put His Son through that torture in order to rescue us. So while it is noble that we be honest about our desperate lack, we must be assured that God has us measured for personal failure long before we were born.
God is not caught off-guard by our immense ability to disobey.
It is this truth that could lean us in His direction. He loves us as sinners. He saves us; not after we straighten ourselves up, but before we even realize what a mess we are. God killed His own heart because He treasures His children.
You can be lost if you choose. You can dismiss the powerful and profound work on that hill one terrible day. But you don't have to. Anyone can have hope of living eternally. Such a hope isn't for the good ones in some churches. It isn't relegated to those who are most sacrificial. Rather, eternal life is for the miserable hyper-sinner who could not save him/herself....which would include...me.
No one is too far gone. No one is exempt from reason to hope. No one is so bad that God can't save. That would include you or your relative or your neighbor.
Maybe it would be worthwhile for some of you to reconsider. This Jesus didn't hold a pep rally for those who like enthusiastic gatherings. No, he volunteered to die in our stead because he knew full-well we could not compensate for the misery we brought to earth while here.
Good enough? No one is. Join the crowd...and research what it means to believe in a God who gives Himself up for His children. It's quite the success story. And you are very much included in the story-line.
Wednesday, September 09, 2015
FEELING LIKE YOUR RESERVATIONS IN HEAVEN HAVE BEEN CANCELLED?
Sure wish that the idea of heaven would be true....but even then you would feel like you will be headed for Hell?
Oh how I realize this comment is just so abrupt. I would prefer to apologize as well as not address it. But in reality, there are so many very wonderful quality people who feel it is a waste of time trying to get to heaven. In their words, I would not be good enough. There is no hope for me.
I hear such phrases from the poor to the rich; from the nobody to the famous. I want to change this unnecessary perception for any who possess a feeling of being so very sinful that their reservations in Heaven have most likely been cancelled.
The very recall of Jesus on the Cross assures us of two things; (1) we can't even fathom us at our very worst and (2) we can't fathom how much God loved us to put His Son through that torture in order to rescue us. So while it is noble that we be honest about our desperate lack, we must be assured that God has us measured for personal failure long before we were born.
God is not caught off-guard by our immense ability to disobey.
It is this truth that could lean us in His direction. He loves us as sinners. He saves us; not after we straighten ourselves up, but before we even realize what a mess we are. God killed His own heart because He treasures His children.
You can be lost if you choose. You can dismiss the powerful and profound work on that hill one terrible day. But you don't have to. Anyone can have hope of living eternally. Such a hope isn't for the good ones in some churches. It isn't relegated to those who are most sacrificial. Rather, eternal life is for the miserable hyper-sinner who could not save him/herself....which would include...me.
No one is too far gone. No one is exempt from reason to hope. No one is so bad that God can't save. That would include you or your relative or your neighbor.
Maybe it would be worthwhile for some of you to reconsider. This Jesus didn't hold a pep rally for those who like enthusiastic gatherings. No, he volunteered to die in our stead because he knew full-well we could not compensate for the misery we brought to earth while here.
Good enough? No one is. Join the crowd...and research what it means to believe in a God who gives Himself up for His children. It's quite the success story. And you are very much included in the story-line.
Oh how I realize this comment is just so abrupt. I would prefer to apologize as well as not address it. But in reality, there are so many very wonderful quality people who feel it is a waste of time trying to get to heaven. In their words, I would not be good enough. There is no hope for me.
I hear such phrases from the poor to the rich; from the nobody to the famous. I want to change this unnecessary perception for any who possess a feeling of being so very sinful that their reservations in Heaven have most likely been cancelled.
The very recall of Jesus on the Cross assures us of two things; (1) we can't even fathom us at our very worst and (2) we can't fathom how much God loved us to put His Son through that torture in order to rescue us. So while it is noble that we be honest about our desperate lack, we must be assured that God has us measured for personal failure long before we were born.
God is not caught off-guard by our immense ability to disobey.
It is this truth that could lean us in His direction. He loves us as sinners. He saves us; not after we straighten ourselves up, but before we even realize what a mess we are. God killed His own heart because He treasures His children.
You can be lost if you choose. You can dismiss the powerful and profound work on that hill one terrible day. But you don't have to. Anyone can have hope of living eternally. Such a hope isn't for the good ones in some churches. It isn't relegated to those who are most sacrificial. Rather, eternal life is for the miserable hyper-sinner who could not save him/herself....which would include...me.
No one is too far gone. No one is exempt from reason to hope. No one is so bad that God can't save. That would include you or your relative or your neighbor.
Maybe it would be worthwhile for some of you to reconsider. This Jesus didn't hold a pep rally for those who like enthusiastic gatherings. No, he volunteered to die in our stead because he knew full-well we could not compensate for the misery we brought to earth while here.
Good enough? No one is. Join the crowd...and research what it means to believe in a God who gives Himself up for His children. It's quite the success story. And you are very much included in the story-line.
GO TAKE ON THE DAY
You have the freedom to hit this day with gusto. Of course, you carry concerns for others or for yourself. And surely your bed of roses has the wilt in places. But I warn you not to lose sight of the magnificence of you.
True, you have failures. Also true you sometimes miscalculate. And we just as well admit it that there are times your attitude could use a scolding.
But there is this thing about you; well, really this Person. When you have been baptized into Jesus his Holy Spirit has taken up shop within. And just exactly what is He doing in there...inside of your very personal mancave or womancave?
The Holy Spirit is printing out DNA of goodness that you can't manufacture on your own. He produces items like love and like joy and like patience (Galatians 5:22, 23). You are to be God's warehouse where He has set up shop to put out a line of goods that everyone on your street needs.
Of course we can't do it. We get cranky and fussy. But that's why He resides within you; to take over the production line.
You are more than you are because having been baptized into Jesus you received his Holy Spirit. He isn't in there to cause you to pretend you are having a good day. No, He is within to afford comfort and hope for those fortunate enough to encounter you.
People are waiting on someone to give them a word of kindness. You are exactly the one to do it. Now...go take on the day.
True, you have failures. Also true you sometimes miscalculate. And we just as well admit it that there are times your attitude could use a scolding.
But there is this thing about you; well, really this Person. When you have been baptized into Jesus his Holy Spirit has taken up shop within. And just exactly what is He doing in there...inside of your very personal mancave or womancave?
The Holy Spirit is printing out DNA of goodness that you can't manufacture on your own. He produces items like love and like joy and like patience (Galatians 5:22, 23). You are to be God's warehouse where He has set up shop to put out a line of goods that everyone on your street needs.
Of course we can't do it. We get cranky and fussy. But that's why He resides within you; to take over the production line.
You are more than you are because having been baptized into Jesus you received his Holy Spirit. He isn't in there to cause you to pretend you are having a good day. No, He is within to afford comfort and hope for those fortunate enough to encounter you.
People are waiting on someone to give them a word of kindness. You are exactly the one to do it. Now...go take on the day.
Tuesday, September 08, 2015
QUESTIONS WE TEND TO HAVE ABOUT GOD
I believe there is information, valuable information, being withheld among us regarding the realization of God. In this mix of current readers today, there is this great combination of people who believe absolutely in God, some have a quasi-maybe faith, others hope there is God, while some detest the topic. Each group is extremely valued and loved by God.
While I make myself very vulnerable with this post, I believe that many of you possess insight that basically goes undetected because there is not a format for expression of either doubt or of question.
What is it that you wonder about God? Or, possibly you just don't get why any would believe in such an entity? I'm not asking for your criticism of your church neighbors, frustration with pastors, nor your disappointment that no one spoke to you when you visited a local congregation. We all have such stories, unfortunately.
So I'm not asking for a gripe session. I am, however, curious. What is it that we leadership and churches simply don't yet see that you honestly question? What points are we missing? Where do guys like me who have been around this subject for decades seem to go blind to your needs? Your questions? Your anxieties?
I believe that a great number of dear and wonderful people have the simplest of questions about the reality or the actuality about God, but we are not sure if it is all right to ask.
I'm not inquiring of you so that I can give Dear Abby-like snippet responses. I'm asking that I might learn. I do not want to be a spokesman in the Kingdom of God who is failing to connect with hearers.
Would you risk? If you don't mind, help me to understand what it is you can't seem to grasp at this moment in time? Go easy with me as I'm just as fragile as all the rest of us. Answers are not necessarily forthcoming in one big AnswerSwoop because this isn't about such. I'm interested in being attentive to all who have questions; but guys like me are too busy being religious.
Your questions might be answers to help me grow into more effective ministry. It's one thing to live in a critical stupor of church and all that goes with it. It's quite another to simply wonder about the traits of God and how mankind fits in. Maybe you could help me understand the complexities of concerns which are currently going on toward the topic of significant spiritual questions.
While I make myself very vulnerable with this post, I believe that many of you possess insight that basically goes undetected because there is not a format for expression of either doubt or of question.
What is it that you wonder about God? Or, possibly you just don't get why any would believe in such an entity? I'm not asking for your criticism of your church neighbors, frustration with pastors, nor your disappointment that no one spoke to you when you visited a local congregation. We all have such stories, unfortunately.
So I'm not asking for a gripe session. I am, however, curious. What is it that we leadership and churches simply don't yet see that you honestly question? What points are we missing? Where do guys like me who have been around this subject for decades seem to go blind to your needs? Your questions? Your anxieties?
I believe that a great number of dear and wonderful people have the simplest of questions about the reality or the actuality about God, but we are not sure if it is all right to ask.
I'm not inquiring of you so that I can give Dear Abby-like snippet responses. I'm asking that I might learn. I do not want to be a spokesman in the Kingdom of God who is failing to connect with hearers.
Would you risk? If you don't mind, help me to understand what it is you can't seem to grasp at this moment in time? Go easy with me as I'm just as fragile as all the rest of us. Answers are not necessarily forthcoming in one big AnswerSwoop because this isn't about such. I'm interested in being attentive to all who have questions; but guys like me are too busy being religious.
Your questions might be answers to help me grow into more effective ministry. It's one thing to live in a critical stupor of church and all that goes with it. It's quite another to simply wonder about the traits of God and how mankind fits in. Maybe you could help me understand the complexities of concerns which are currently going on toward the topic of significant spiritual questions.
Monday, September 07, 2015
DON'T BE ROBBED OF THE MOMENT
I can't say that I know what it was like in what some would refer to as the Good Ol' Days. Reminiscence of slower pace is perceived by the older generations of which I am now one. Whether such is true or those were just some of our times we favor, I'm not certain. I do know that we attend to a very fast-paced life-style today.
I do cheer you on to drink in the moment. Life is rich with buried treasure; some of it going unseen before our very eyes, I believe, due to our hurried pace. Notice right now. Love right now.
While Internet, FB, etc surely keep us in touch, this can become quite surface. These constant blurbs passing through our machines surely fill our waking moments with value. Furthermore, let it be also noted that these "in touch" concepts, in reality, may actually keep us out of touch. Communication is thrown out in quick-firing snippets. Intercommunication is accelerated while understanding and genuine connection to one another are possibly being sabotaged.
I am quite fond of our communication gadgets because they let me pass through my friends' days as you all pass through mine...much like what we are doing just now. However, we must not lose sight of the basic need among us to be present with others physically to give and to receive strength.
For all of the many gatherings of all of the versatile families and friends, we are most overjoyed. I merely mean to awaken any who have traded human face-to-face interaction for the hiding place of communication gadgets to think again.
We can't possibly bond deeply with the hundreds and thousands as we exchange photos, comments, and articles with great delight. But we can bond deeply with a few. I urge you to be sure you are not robbed of being with the people who are in your presence because you are mentally and emotionally brain-dead to the family and friends hovered around you.
We need others...so let us be present when we get to be with one another.
I do cheer you on to drink in the moment. Life is rich with buried treasure; some of it going unseen before our very eyes, I believe, due to our hurried pace. Notice right now. Love right now.
While Internet, FB, etc surely keep us in touch, this can become quite surface. These constant blurbs passing through our machines surely fill our waking moments with value. Furthermore, let it be also noted that these "in touch" concepts, in reality, may actually keep us out of touch. Communication is thrown out in quick-firing snippets. Intercommunication is accelerated while understanding and genuine connection to one another are possibly being sabotaged.
I am quite fond of our communication gadgets because they let me pass through my friends' days as you all pass through mine...much like what we are doing just now. However, we must not lose sight of the basic need among us to be present with others physically to give and to receive strength.
For all of the many gatherings of all of the versatile families and friends, we are most overjoyed. I merely mean to awaken any who have traded human face-to-face interaction for the hiding place of communication gadgets to think again.
We can't possibly bond deeply with the hundreds and thousands as we exchange photos, comments, and articles with great delight. But we can bond deeply with a few. I urge you to be sure you are not robbed of being with the people who are in your presence because you are mentally and emotionally brain-dead to the family and friends hovered around you.
We need others...so let us be present when we get to be with one another.
Sunday, September 06, 2015
HOW COULD WE HAVE POSITIVE IMPACT?
I treasure the innovators, thinkers, planners, and dreamers. Whatever level of faithful devotion we have reached, the fascination with God is that He is always creative. To back that statement all one has to do is to note that world-wide inventions are not on the decline. The opposite is true. So many new concepts are coming at us so fast that we cannot possibly absorb the wonder of it all.
Major League pitchers learn how to develop a change-up to go with their fastball. Scientists cannot afford to lock in on the newest discovery to simply stay there; else they will soon be left behind. The realm of education is still in need of knowing ABCs while trying to keep pace with current trends of ambitious learning.
So it is with faith. I don't know of a zone more stuck. Yet, to be fair, this is my realm of biggest interest; so possibly I'm biased.
However, I am concerned about what it is we call faith. Do we read the Bible with its impossible stories becoming possible; yet close it as if such glory were for back then? Are we far too dismissive of our own sins while we crab at the world around us for there misfunctions?
Believers are surely aligned by God to have positive impact. If not careful we will be more critical than helpful. It could be that the Christian world needs first to confess our own sins before we pounce on that strain of sin in community that we would dare never to be guilty.
Surely our communities are in sinful disarray. And God died to help us. We have work to do. We love the call to his work. Our first line of duty again today may very well be that we confess our own sins rather than the sins of others. From this move, we very well might see a new kind of response toward us; one of welcoming.
Major League pitchers learn how to develop a change-up to go with their fastball. Scientists cannot afford to lock in on the newest discovery to simply stay there; else they will soon be left behind. The realm of education is still in need of knowing ABCs while trying to keep pace with current trends of ambitious learning.
So it is with faith. I don't know of a zone more stuck. Yet, to be fair, this is my realm of biggest interest; so possibly I'm biased.
However, I am concerned about what it is we call faith. Do we read the Bible with its impossible stories becoming possible; yet close it as if such glory were for back then? Are we far too dismissive of our own sins while we crab at the world around us for there misfunctions?
Believers are surely aligned by God to have positive impact. If not careful we will be more critical than helpful. It could be that the Christian world needs first to confess our own sins before we pounce on that strain of sin in community that we would dare never to be guilty.
Surely our communities are in sinful disarray. And God died to help us. We have work to do. We love the call to his work. Our first line of duty again today may very well be that we confess our own sins rather than the sins of others. From this move, we very well might see a new kind of response toward us; one of welcoming.
Saturday, September 05, 2015
TRYING TO GRASP THE BIGGER PICTURE
You blind guides, who strain at a gnat and swallow a camel!
Jesus
Religions (plural) seem to have an innate drive to hone in on the tedious. Christianity joins the ranks. It seems to be such irony that the more tedious and narrow the more ego develops as to doing faith correctly. This was the demise of the Pharisees. The plague continues.
It is a given that Jesus faced this contagion head-on. He argued with the narrow and quite devoted legalists and was eventually executed because of their plotting mindset. It is this one, Jesus, that sets the course for developing faith.
All who follow must be on guard lest we follow the path of his executioners rather than him. That we might slip into church rules and regulations over life and love is paramount. We are called to walk a very risky trail.
A brochure came yesterday with headlines, GOSPEL MEETING. In addition to dates and location, there is this admonition, For more than 60 years Brother ---- has advocated that there should be one drinking vessel containing the fruit of the vine used in the observance of the Lord's supper. On Friday night he will speak on this important subject. We extend a very kind and cordial invitation to be with us to hear his presentation.
For most of my readers, you don't even know what this is about. And, I'm not telling you. I will say it is steeped with small thinking coupled with fear.
My question for us is, what is there in our religious fabric that pushes the grand glory of God aside for our religious habitry? What do we do in our devotion to our church's doctrine that not only keeps the lost from being introduced to Jesus, but even drapes a wet blanket across the hearts of our own?
I have been guilty of minimizing Jesus while maximizing standing for Truth. Unfortunately, that Truth perpetually comes into question (and rightfully so) because my focus has been on the plan and not on the Man.
Specifically for those who can't take organized religion, I apologize for my role in it. I'm still learning. There is a bigger picture than what I have at times made it out to be. My intent is to gain momentum in the things that matter. A good beginning is to spit out both the gnats and the camels of introverted religion that even unbelievers can tell is a facade.
Jesus
Religions (plural) seem to have an innate drive to hone in on the tedious. Christianity joins the ranks. It seems to be such irony that the more tedious and narrow the more ego develops as to doing faith correctly. This was the demise of the Pharisees. The plague continues.
It is a given that Jesus faced this contagion head-on. He argued with the narrow and quite devoted legalists and was eventually executed because of their plotting mindset. It is this one, Jesus, that sets the course for developing faith.
All who follow must be on guard lest we follow the path of his executioners rather than him. That we might slip into church rules and regulations over life and love is paramount. We are called to walk a very risky trail.
A brochure came yesterday with headlines, GOSPEL MEETING. In addition to dates and location, there is this admonition, For more than 60 years Brother ---- has advocated that there should be one drinking vessel containing the fruit of the vine used in the observance of the Lord's supper. On Friday night he will speak on this important subject. We extend a very kind and cordial invitation to be with us to hear his presentation.
For most of my readers, you don't even know what this is about. And, I'm not telling you. I will say it is steeped with small thinking coupled with fear.
My question for us is, what is there in our religious fabric that pushes the grand glory of God aside for our religious habitry? What do we do in our devotion to our church's doctrine that not only keeps the lost from being introduced to Jesus, but even drapes a wet blanket across the hearts of our own?
I have been guilty of minimizing Jesus while maximizing standing for Truth. Unfortunately, that Truth perpetually comes into question (and rightfully so) because my focus has been on the plan and not on the Man.
Specifically for those who can't take organized religion, I apologize for my role in it. I'm still learning. There is a bigger picture than what I have at times made it out to be. My intent is to gain momentum in the things that matter. A good beginning is to spit out both the gnats and the camels of introverted religion that even unbelievers can tell is a facade.
Friday, September 04, 2015
A FAVORITE THING ABOUT LIFE
Don't you just love right now?
While unpretentious about negative matters existing, we are free to reflect, perceive, and focus upon the vast amount of wonder right before our very eyes. It isn't necessary to travel a distance to scope out fascination.
At this moment my brain is sending signals to my fingertips in order to communicate to over 2000 Facebook friends. Add to that the number of readers in my hometown newspaper. And, I haven't even touched on the wonder of my eyes reading what your eyes will soon read.
Wonderfully bizarre!!!
A favorite thing I find about life is that regardless of age, regardless of what's been discovered, regardless of scientific structure, there is the constant and ongoing snowballing of practical innovation.
I. Love. Innovation.
The human mind is Disney World on caffeine. We recall by the spectacular concept of re-minding. If that isn't wonder enough, this same information sponge within our skull can also imagine. When one has a capacity to re-mind and also imagine....well hello exciting life!!!
I urge you to think like God. Think creatively. Not only is that His forte, He passed it along to us. We are created in His image.
Did you know that the game of basketball began with a bushel basket upon a pole at each end of a court? Each time a basket was made, they had to stop the game to climb up to retrieve the ball. Eventually....yep, you got it....the baskets aged and the bottoms fell out.
Ahha, a way to shoot the ball and eliminate the time-consuming act of retrieving it. A genius idea that had been right in front of them all along.
Life is packed with invention-yet-to-happen. I find that a favorite thing about life is that it is both initiated and backed by our God whose drive seems to consistently be that of perpetual creativity. May we have the mind-set to join in!
While unpretentious about negative matters existing, we are free to reflect, perceive, and focus upon the vast amount of wonder right before our very eyes. It isn't necessary to travel a distance to scope out fascination.
At this moment my brain is sending signals to my fingertips in order to communicate to over 2000 Facebook friends. Add to that the number of readers in my hometown newspaper. And, I haven't even touched on the wonder of my eyes reading what your eyes will soon read.
Wonderfully bizarre!!!
A favorite thing I find about life is that regardless of age, regardless of what's been discovered, regardless of scientific structure, there is the constant and ongoing snowballing of practical innovation.
I. Love. Innovation.
The human mind is Disney World on caffeine. We recall by the spectacular concept of re-minding. If that isn't wonder enough, this same information sponge within our skull can also imagine. When one has a capacity to re-mind and also imagine....well hello exciting life!!!
I urge you to think like God. Think creatively. Not only is that His forte, He passed it along to us. We are created in His image.
Did you know that the game of basketball began with a bushel basket upon a pole at each end of a court? Each time a basket was made, they had to stop the game to climb up to retrieve the ball. Eventually....yep, you got it....the baskets aged and the bottoms fell out.
Ahha, a way to shoot the ball and eliminate the time-consuming act of retrieving it. A genius idea that had been right in front of them all along.
Life is packed with invention-yet-to-happen. I find that a favorite thing about life is that it is both initiated and backed by our God whose drive seems to consistently be that of perpetual creativity. May we have the mind-set to join in!
Thursday, September 03, 2015
HYPNOTIZED BY HABIT
The apostle Paul uses a strange wording in First Thessalonians 3:8...for now we really live.
What's the difference between living and really living? Could it be that the former is more like getting through the day while the other is sensing the wonder of it all? For now I simply wish to toss in your direction the question, Are we really living?
I wonder. I wonder if because the sun rises and sets with such consistency, along with steady pace, if we have routined ourselves out of really living. Even our faith can be found to have deadened by our unthinking rote formats. We very likely are under the threat of being hypnotized by habit.
I love the really living factor.
What happens when our hypnotic trance is broken? Life! Life is everywhere. We see possibility. We see potential. We see opportunity.
I've been in a semi-funk lately. Trying to figure my future role at Memorial, coupled with a fatigue factor that insists on following me everywhere I go, has been an uphill challenge. Having met yesterday with two of my friends/elders helped me to break my fog. I am grateful for a special time to reflect with intent to pursue answers.
We must be on guard. Daily procedures can become subtle grinds. If not careful the life will get squeezed out...and such will not be noticed.
I read in a leadership book this week that our greatest innovative development often/usually comes when we aren't focused on the actual circumstance. Away from the office or out on a three-day vacation seems to have a creative edge. The reason would include the breaking of habitual routine.
So for your day...for your walk...for your mental and emotional health...I encourage you to come out of your possible trance. Awaken to the creative flow of God. Stages for such awakening can vary.
Some may be to leave the office and hit the driving range. For others it might be to take in a movie on a non-movie-type day. For some of us, it may simply be to have lunch with other thinkers who would give you input that even they didn't realize.
Hypnotized by habit? Not if we can help it. We would rather be energized by variable creativity.
What's the difference between living and really living? Could it be that the former is more like getting through the day while the other is sensing the wonder of it all? For now I simply wish to toss in your direction the question, Are we really living?
I wonder. I wonder if because the sun rises and sets with such consistency, along with steady pace, if we have routined ourselves out of really living. Even our faith can be found to have deadened by our unthinking rote formats. We very likely are under the threat of being hypnotized by habit.
I love the really living factor.
What happens when our hypnotic trance is broken? Life! Life is everywhere. We see possibility. We see potential. We see opportunity.
I've been in a semi-funk lately. Trying to figure my future role at Memorial, coupled with a fatigue factor that insists on following me everywhere I go, has been an uphill challenge. Having met yesterday with two of my friends/elders helped me to break my fog. I am grateful for a special time to reflect with intent to pursue answers.
We must be on guard. Daily procedures can become subtle grinds. If not careful the life will get squeezed out...and such will not be noticed.
I read in a leadership book this week that our greatest innovative development often/usually comes when we aren't focused on the actual circumstance. Away from the office or out on a three-day vacation seems to have a creative edge. The reason would include the breaking of habitual routine.
So for your day...for your walk...for your mental and emotional health...I encourage you to come out of your possible trance. Awaken to the creative flow of God. Stages for such awakening can vary.
Some may be to leave the office and hit the driving range. For others it might be to take in a movie on a non-movie-type day. For some of us, it may simply be to have lunch with other thinkers who would give you input that even they didn't realize.
Hypnotized by habit? Not if we can help it. We would rather be energized by variable creativity.
Wednesday, September 02, 2015
VISIT THE CENTER OF GREAT WONDER
I don't know about you. For me, I want to see things going on (productivity/effectivity) while, simultaneously, I can't seem to get to them because so many things are going on. This is weird in a weird sort of way.
I am grateful, sincerely so, for technology's progress. Yet, for every app and tool of creativity for advancement in usefulness these seem to beget a parallel interruption. Getting to write this blog, for instance, is like a dream in reaching to so many so quickly. However, the number of times my computer bing-bongs me while I'm composing this seems to announce that I am falling behind.
Should you think I am about to pop a solution upon you, think again. I'm not. I simply want to say, Don't you love right now?
While I don't know how to manage these days of opportunity and interruption, I certainly don't intend to fall for the fake life of misery. What a glorious concept; active. I'm active! I'm able to walk, talk, think, see, and hear! These are gifts to my day...your day as well.
We get to be on the starting team of living among the living. Life hasn't passed us by. It has invited us in. You. Me. We. Opportunity and interruption are ways of life. Let me say that with a bit more emphasis.
Opportunity and interruption are ways of life....not of death. In death there is no opportunity and no interruption. We choose to live! So since we have made such a dramatic choice, don't you think it would be good management to like right now? Don't you think it would be best not to waste time in frustration when such moments could be focused upon celebration?
See. I thought you were a good thinker. While we wish more would be happening, take note. We are simultaneously walking and talking in the Center of Great Wonder.
I am grateful, sincerely so, for technology's progress. Yet, for every app and tool of creativity for advancement in usefulness these seem to beget a parallel interruption. Getting to write this blog, for instance, is like a dream in reaching to so many so quickly. However, the number of times my computer bing-bongs me while I'm composing this seems to announce that I am falling behind.
Should you think I am about to pop a solution upon you, think again. I'm not. I simply want to say, Don't you love right now?
While I don't know how to manage these days of opportunity and interruption, I certainly don't intend to fall for the fake life of misery. What a glorious concept; active. I'm active! I'm able to walk, talk, think, see, and hear! These are gifts to my day...your day as well.
We get to be on the starting team of living among the living. Life hasn't passed us by. It has invited us in. You. Me. We. Opportunity and interruption are ways of life. Let me say that with a bit more emphasis.
Opportunity and interruption are ways of life....not of death. In death there is no opportunity and no interruption. We choose to live! So since we have made such a dramatic choice, don't you think it would be good management to like right now? Don't you think it would be best not to waste time in frustration when such moments could be focused upon celebration?
See. I thought you were a good thinker. While we wish more would be happening, take note. We are simultaneously walking and talking in the Center of Great Wonder.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
WHY GUN CONTROL ISN'T A SOLUTION
We are in constant stir over past, present, and perpetual tragedy of man destroying man with bullets. I am sympathetic to voices who want to eradicate guns. And should they develop a plan that succeeds, I will join with robust the applause.
But for now, would you mind if I offer an idea as to why such a thread won't be productive? Owning guns does not seem to be the real problem. Go ahead. Confiscate the bullets. Do we not think then that only the villains will be the ones who possess such?
Trying to do away with guns seems to be similar in trying to limit candles so that curtains won't catch fire and houses won't burn. Should we end Little League because boys and girls get injured? Shouldn't cars be suspect because of traffic deaths? I do note that guns are a bit different as misuse is intentional whereas fire, baseball injuries, and auto accidents are....accidental.
Regarding gun control, why wouldn't there instead be a larger push to revamp the heart; that place where anger and insult resides which inspires the pulling of the trigger in the first place? Why do we not realize (or do we) the desperation our nations have for effective spiritual development. It seems that we still believe that if enough laws are passed we will finally eliminate painful destruction within our communities.
But such legal passages have not dented local news. Crime steadily escalates.
Yet there is something about us. There is something invisible; tasteless, and odorless. This would be our hearts. At the rate we improve hearts we will see progress in transforming bitterness into love and despondency into hope. This....this is what the Holy Spirit does for mankind.
Should you be one focused upon gun control, I say that I hope you hit what works. My observation (which is quite limited I realize) is that if we take away the guns without transforming the heart then a new kind of weapon will be created by these whose outbursts of uncontrollable anger hunger to do damage to fellow man.
My contention is that guns are not the problem. Those of us of faith who distance ourselves from the deprived and frustrated have much to do with it. Guys like me have failed in carrying greater influence into our communities. I want to get better at it. A young man and woman dropping dead in front of our television eyes says to me that my role just must improve. How about you?
Therefore, if this consideration is in the ballpark of potential, it is not up to Congress to clamp down on weapons. Rather is is up to churches to become more vocal about hope and faith and love. These three will reverse man at the heart in order to become a friend rather than an enemy to society.
But for now, would you mind if I offer an idea as to why such a thread won't be productive? Owning guns does not seem to be the real problem. Go ahead. Confiscate the bullets. Do we not think then that only the villains will be the ones who possess such?
Trying to do away with guns seems to be similar in trying to limit candles so that curtains won't catch fire and houses won't burn. Should we end Little League because boys and girls get injured? Shouldn't cars be suspect because of traffic deaths? I do note that guns are a bit different as misuse is intentional whereas fire, baseball injuries, and auto accidents are....accidental.
Regarding gun control, why wouldn't there instead be a larger push to revamp the heart; that place where anger and insult resides which inspires the pulling of the trigger in the first place? Why do we not realize (or do we) the desperation our nations have for effective spiritual development. It seems that we still believe that if enough laws are passed we will finally eliminate painful destruction within our communities.
But such legal passages have not dented local news. Crime steadily escalates.
Yet there is something about us. There is something invisible; tasteless, and odorless. This would be our hearts. At the rate we improve hearts we will see progress in transforming bitterness into love and despondency into hope. This....this is what the Holy Spirit does for mankind.
Should you be one focused upon gun control, I say that I hope you hit what works. My observation (which is quite limited I realize) is that if we take away the guns without transforming the heart then a new kind of weapon will be created by these whose outbursts of uncontrollable anger hunger to do damage to fellow man.
My contention is that guns are not the problem. Those of us of faith who distance ourselves from the deprived and frustrated have much to do with it. Guys like me have failed in carrying greater influence into our communities. I want to get better at it. A young man and woman dropping dead in front of our television eyes says to me that my role just must improve. How about you?
Therefore, if this consideration is in the ballpark of potential, it is not up to Congress to clamp down on weapons. Rather is is up to churches to become more vocal about hope and faith and love. These three will reverse man at the heart in order to become a friend rather than an enemy to society.
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
ONE OF THE LAST PLACES WE LOOK
There is much going right with this world. Too, the opposite is paramount in places. Right?
Concerns press. Interruptions...interrupt. It seems that darkness looms on various fronts. And we want to see life really live. So does God.
A distinctive move to sort through the gigantic mood maze will seem to always begin at home. By home, I mean with self.
Changes would seem to bolster. Improvements...would improve. Yet, individually we have a steady knack of believing such should and would first be found in other people or other circumstances. Not necessarily. It is a toughy to begin our long list of wishful corrections with self.
We are in need of steady reproving and correcting. As age factors in, we are found to still be in need of profound adjustments. It is never ending. Furthermore, it is exhausting. I...am exhausting.
One of the last places we tend to look for making life better is that heart to heart talk with self about self. We are so biased in our favor, aren't we?
Maybe days would be better served if we could truly develop a faith that understands the log of foremost concern is the one which habitates in our own eye.
Concerns press. Interruptions...interrupt. It seems that darkness looms on various fronts. And we want to see life really live. So does God.
A distinctive move to sort through the gigantic mood maze will seem to always begin at home. By home, I mean with self.
Changes would seem to bolster. Improvements...would improve. Yet, individually we have a steady knack of believing such should and would first be found in other people or other circumstances. Not necessarily. It is a toughy to begin our long list of wishful corrections with self.
We are in need of steady reproving and correcting. As age factors in, we are found to still be in need of profound adjustments. It is never ending. Furthermore, it is exhausting. I...am exhausting.
One of the last places we tend to look for making life better is that heart to heart talk with self about self. We are so biased in our favor, aren't we?
Maybe days would be better served if we could truly develop a faith that understands the log of foremost concern is the one which habitates in our own eye.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
MAINTAIN YOUR PUSH BACK
Do not succumb to discouraging people or moments. Jesus obliterated the deepest, widest, highest, and farthest threat; death. He crushed it, smashed it, broke it. All other stresses are but momentary interruptions as well.
You were created by the Living God for more than barely getting by. Thoughts of agony do not belong to you. Therefore, do not give them a home.
Rise up and live. If you have never been baptized into Jesus, consider it for this is the picture of starting life over; born again is how I remember Jesus wording it.
Maintain your push back against the threads of thought that perpetually stab and jab at the heart. Push back. The day-ruiners don't belong to you., They merely serve you.
Believe it...because you believe Him.
You were created by the Living God for more than barely getting by. Thoughts of agony do not belong to you. Therefore, do not give them a home.
Rise up and live. If you have never been baptized into Jesus, consider it for this is the picture of starting life over; born again is how I remember Jesus wording it.
Maintain your push back against the threads of thought that perpetually stab and jab at the heart. Push back. The day-ruiners don't belong to you., They merely serve you.
Believe it...because you believe Him.
Monday, August 24, 2015
THE GOLD MINE IN OUR MIDST
I've been noticing God; His schemes, His process, His moves. And just as the Bible stories are absurdly outrageous, so are our personal lives. From floating ax heads to slaying giants to raising dead people, our Bible studies flourish with what "can't be" actually becoming.
And what I dearly love about God is His knack for taking the unusual and the unexpected and making both productive. These are His stories. This is His Life!
To grasp what I'm about to say regarding the gold mine in our midst, I remind you that God works so many things backward to our flesh-thinking. To keep we give. To be first we must volunteer to be last. To be strong is to operate from our weakness. To live we die.
Get it? Then consider.
The gold mine in our midst is our depression. Our bad days are pure gold. These are primed for a profound discovery that will set our days ablaze with wonder and meaning. We will do well to awaken to such treasure.
"Where's the gold in this, Terry."
Suffering from the blues tends to sink our ship; at least they surely give it a mighty try. Yet, before you buy into their selling you down the river, reconsider. What value would God have in these dark moments? Why would I dare thank Him for such misery? There are two reasons.
First, it is often at our loneliest times that we tend to give God greater notice. We find that we may have given it our all and such wasn't enough. Perplexed and down, we can/should turn to Him for rescue and relief.
Second, the gold mine is also that these drastic moments of depression are valuable reminders of how others are feeling. When we awaken to the fact that we are to live to encourage others, it is from this foundational doctrine that our gold mine begins to thrive. Our misery is transformed into understanding how and where others ail.
When we believe this about our struggles, we are suddenly awakened to a new world of meaning and productivity. Our troubles aren't present to make us miserable. No, we shall use them as beneficial in that we have a deep compassion for those who struggle in similar fashion. Our empathy becomes assistance for our neighbors.
Good for us. Good for them. The Gold Mine in our midst is useful, meaningful, and necessary. Discouragement then takes a back seat to the profound opportunities of our every day. They no longer are allowed to take the wheel....but we will allow them to energize us.
And what I dearly love about God is His knack for taking the unusual and the unexpected and making both productive. These are His stories. This is His Life!
To grasp what I'm about to say regarding the gold mine in our midst, I remind you that God works so many things backward to our flesh-thinking. To keep we give. To be first we must volunteer to be last. To be strong is to operate from our weakness. To live we die.
Get it? Then consider.
The gold mine in our midst is our depression. Our bad days are pure gold. These are primed for a profound discovery that will set our days ablaze with wonder and meaning. We will do well to awaken to such treasure.
"Where's the gold in this, Terry."
Suffering from the blues tends to sink our ship; at least they surely give it a mighty try. Yet, before you buy into their selling you down the river, reconsider. What value would God have in these dark moments? Why would I dare thank Him for such misery? There are two reasons.
First, it is often at our loneliest times that we tend to give God greater notice. We find that we may have given it our all and such wasn't enough. Perplexed and down, we can/should turn to Him for rescue and relief.
Second, the gold mine is also that these drastic moments of depression are valuable reminders of how others are feeling. When we awaken to the fact that we are to live to encourage others, it is from this foundational doctrine that our gold mine begins to thrive. Our misery is transformed into understanding how and where others ail.
When we believe this about our struggles, we are suddenly awakened to a new world of meaning and productivity. Our troubles aren't present to make us miserable. No, we shall use them as beneficial in that we have a deep compassion for those who struggle in similar fashion. Our empathy becomes assistance for our neighbors.
Good for us. Good for them. The Gold Mine in our midst is useful, meaningful, and necessary. Discouragement then takes a back seat to the profound opportunities of our every day. They no longer are allowed to take the wheel....but we will allow them to energize us.
Sunday, August 23, 2015
THE BIGGER SOLUTION TO OUR BIG MISTAKE
We live in a perpetual zone of misunderstanding. We seem to be reflective of others' weak spots; their negativity, their lack, their sins. Simultaneously, we seem to be deflective of our own. II Corinthians 10:12 assures us that when we live comparing ourselves by ourselves (and we usually come out on top doing so) that we are simply without understanding.
Our big mistake is that even if we do dare take the log out of our own eye, we still believe that a log is in theirs. It's one thing for us to admit the crisis (log) of our quint-eyed judgment. But to believe their sins are merely specks? We, basically, won't stand for it.
Our big mistake is that we quickly see the futility of the lousy others. Our bigger solution is to give absolute concentration upon our own. At this very point the solution--the bigger solution--is that we admittedly have to drop the stones of which we were just about ready to toss at another (sinner) in anger.
The bigger solution is to back down to our narrow-minded criticism of others (while very likely they, too, are sinful) as we have bigger fish to fry over contemplation of our own sin.
The Cross remains the standard. It has a clear message. None were exempt. Jesus paid for our sins; not just theirs. That's why Jesus is the bigger solution to our mistakes.
Our big mistake is that even if we do dare take the log out of our own eye, we still believe that a log is in theirs. It's one thing for us to admit the crisis (log) of our quint-eyed judgment. But to believe their sins are merely specks? We, basically, won't stand for it.
Our big mistake is that we quickly see the futility of the lousy others. Our bigger solution is to give absolute concentration upon our own. At this very point the solution--the bigger solution--is that we admittedly have to drop the stones of which we were just about ready to toss at another (sinner) in anger.
The bigger solution is to back down to our narrow-minded criticism of others (while very likely they, too, are sinful) as we have bigger fish to fry over contemplation of our own sin.
The Cross remains the standard. It has a clear message. None were exempt. Jesus paid for our sins; not just theirs. That's why Jesus is the bigger solution to our mistakes.
Saturday, August 22, 2015
THE POWER OF A BELIEVING HEART
An old song of a half a century ago was worded something like, You gotta have heart...miles and miles and miles of heart. As it turns out this idea of having heart is indispensably ultra-necessary. We've just got to have heart.
Wars are won and lost on the turf of hearts; either believing or unbelieving. Naysayers with obviously weak hearts pick at the successes of the brave hearts offering excuses as to why it worked for THEM; but not for ME. From the heart one believes...or chooses not to.
There is power in a believing heart. For one, if matters are stressful at the moment, there remains a perpetual confidence that wonder will definitely break in. The believing heart....believes. It has a faith that what isn't yet can be; what looks bad is pregnant with good possibilities.
The power of a believing heart is invisible, available, and certain. Unbelievers only have good days on the good days. Believers see all days, even with their ups and downs,as filled with potential.
The power of the believing heart always has hope. We have permission to readily and easily accept the promise of what can be due to the startling resurrection of Jesus. He calls us to enter into the most power-packed, power-backed wonder of the imagination....us living fabulous lives embedded within his resurrection power.
Believe it. It is quite true. Our hearts carry explosive life which causes others to want to believe as well.
Wars are won and lost on the turf of hearts; either believing or unbelieving. Naysayers with obviously weak hearts pick at the successes of the brave hearts offering excuses as to why it worked for THEM; but not for ME. From the heart one believes...or chooses not to.
There is power in a believing heart. For one, if matters are stressful at the moment, there remains a perpetual confidence that wonder will definitely break in. The believing heart....believes. It has a faith that what isn't yet can be; what looks bad is pregnant with good possibilities.
The power of a believing heart is invisible, available, and certain. Unbelievers only have good days on the good days. Believers see all days, even with their ups and downs,as filled with potential.
The power of the believing heart always has hope. We have permission to readily and easily accept the promise of what can be due to the startling resurrection of Jesus. He calls us to enter into the most power-packed, power-backed wonder of the imagination....us living fabulous lives embedded within his resurrection power.
Believe it. It is quite true. Our hearts carry explosive life which causes others to want to believe as well.
Friday, August 21, 2015
BLESSED BY FAILURE
Your last failure may be a part of your next success.
Debra Kaye
Sometimes we tend to fight the thing that is poised to bless us most. Mommas monitor this as infants wrestle with trying to go to sleep. A child learning to swim can discover that one toe seems to be weighted--somehow magnetized--to the bottom of the pool. My guess is that with regularity adults withhold personal adventure and fulfillment while hiding beneath the covers of intimidation.
Discovering what doesn't work increases the percentage of coming upon what does. Failure is only failure if we spell it Q U I T. To be shut down or shut out has not the final say. No, we will go to school on the failures quite determined to unearth the potential of successes.
I spent too many years agonizing over my deficits. Yet within them unfolded a gradual awareness of life-giving blessings; not in spite of them, but because of them. I must endure my begrudged and personal lack in so many areas so that I may possess an understanding sensitivity toward the masses who also strain from beneath the load of identical burdens.
Failure advantages us. We will not waste one crumb of disappointment for we will turn frustration into the blessing of better understanding our friends and neighbors. I wish I were more. Would maybe 90% of society struggle with similar concerns about themselves that I also face?
The things which choose to disturb us are our magic wands to give hope to a similarly hurting community. We will not waste our pains; but we will grow from them in order to cheer like-minded people on to victory.
Isn't this why God sent His Son to earth? To learn what it was like being us? And didn't Jesus become the perfect Savior because he understands us? He walked in our sandals before we had feet. Our calling is to follow him. To follow him is to do for others what he did for us....understand.
We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:15-16).
Debra Kaye
Sometimes we tend to fight the thing that is poised to bless us most. Mommas monitor this as infants wrestle with trying to go to sleep. A child learning to swim can discover that one toe seems to be weighted--somehow magnetized--to the bottom of the pool. My guess is that with regularity adults withhold personal adventure and fulfillment while hiding beneath the covers of intimidation.
Discovering what doesn't work increases the percentage of coming upon what does. Failure is only failure if we spell it Q U I T. To be shut down or shut out has not the final say. No, we will go to school on the failures quite determined to unearth the potential of successes.
I spent too many years agonizing over my deficits. Yet within them unfolded a gradual awareness of life-giving blessings; not in spite of them, but because of them. I must endure my begrudged and personal lack in so many areas so that I may possess an understanding sensitivity toward the masses who also strain from beneath the load of identical burdens.
Failure advantages us. We will not waste one crumb of disappointment for we will turn frustration into the blessing of better understanding our friends and neighbors. I wish I were more. Would maybe 90% of society struggle with similar concerns about themselves that I also face?
The things which choose to disturb us are our magic wands to give hope to a similarly hurting community. We will not waste our pains; but we will grow from them in order to cheer like-minded people on to victory.
Isn't this why God sent His Son to earth? To learn what it was like being us? And didn't Jesus become the perfect Savior because he understands us? He walked in our sandals before we had feet. Our calling is to follow him. To follow him is to do for others what he did for us....understand.
We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:15-16).
Thursday, August 20, 2015
THE CONTINUAL WAR WITHIN
The flesh and the spirit collide day by day. There is perpetual conflict.
Ultimately the spirit will live forever. The flesh? Definite and certain decay await.
Do your best to believe from the spirit framework. At the resurrection the spirit will be given a new body; a new carrier for the real, genuine, authentic us...our inner spirit.
Ultimately the spirit will live forever. The flesh? Definite and certain decay await.
Do your best to believe from the spirit framework. At the resurrection the spirit will be given a new body; a new carrier for the real, genuine, authentic us...our inner spirit.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
DYING TO SELF IS AWKWARD...EVERY TIME
We are dependent upon the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in all things. We've heard it. We've read it. We've believed it. We've voiced it.
Yet we Americans pride ourselves of freely living under the mantra of independence. This is our theme, our code, our great gratitude.
These two very strong factors struggle to find a cohesive pathway. Independence from systems of tyranny is one thing. To pursue life for a pure version of pleasing self is in great conflict with the Jesus nature. Thus, we struggle to get our hearts on board with the spiritual side of existence.
However, there clearly seems to be conciliation for a cohesive walk. As the flesh carries our spirit, the tandem are to be persuaded to obey the vocal call from the heavenly territory.
We are individuals who are to possess/do possess a personal relationship with the Trinity. We are individually independent; free from rules and regulatory governments in order to express our heart's full conviction regarding faith.
Personally, however, we are to yield our freedom of living for self so that others can be reached, built up, and blessed. This is a stretch for many who pride ourselves of being servants of God. Yet this expansion is precisely what is needed, and expected, from each believer. We are called to die to ourselves and to live for others. This is the clarion call of the Cross.
Vulnerability. Inconvenience. Imprisonment. Death. This is what soldiers of nations fighting for freedom offer/endure. It is this very freedom that finds the Word of God calling each of us into the battle for the souls of men and women and children.
This heavenly calling will take no less commitment. Vulnerability. Inconvenience. Imprisonment. Death. If not attentive, living in a free country will birth a religion which forms its doctrine around personal preferences, convenience, and dismissive commitment. While we are free to believe, we are not free to deny others the good news because it makes us feel awkward.
No. We find ourselves back at the soldier frontier striving to set the captives free that they may taste of the Divine Glory. Dying to self is awkward.... every time...and we are called to do it.
Yet we Americans pride ourselves of freely living under the mantra of independence. This is our theme, our code, our great gratitude.
These two very strong factors struggle to find a cohesive pathway. Independence from systems of tyranny is one thing. To pursue life for a pure version of pleasing self is in great conflict with the Jesus nature. Thus, we struggle to get our hearts on board with the spiritual side of existence.
However, there clearly seems to be conciliation for a cohesive walk. As the flesh carries our spirit, the tandem are to be persuaded to obey the vocal call from the heavenly territory.
We are individuals who are to possess/do possess a personal relationship with the Trinity. We are individually independent; free from rules and regulatory governments in order to express our heart's full conviction regarding faith.
Personally, however, we are to yield our freedom of living for self so that others can be reached, built up, and blessed. This is a stretch for many who pride ourselves of being servants of God. Yet this expansion is precisely what is needed, and expected, from each believer. We are called to die to ourselves and to live for others. This is the clarion call of the Cross.
Vulnerability. Inconvenience. Imprisonment. Death. This is what soldiers of nations fighting for freedom offer/endure. It is this very freedom that finds the Word of God calling each of us into the battle for the souls of men and women and children.
This heavenly calling will take no less commitment. Vulnerability. Inconvenience. Imprisonment. Death. If not attentive, living in a free country will birth a religion which forms its doctrine around personal preferences, convenience, and dismissive commitment. While we are free to believe, we are not free to deny others the good news because it makes us feel awkward.
No. We find ourselves back at the soldier frontier striving to set the captives free that they may taste of the Divine Glory. Dying to self is awkward.... every time...and we are called to do it.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
THE "NO TRY" ZONE
Mankind must push back if we are going to inhabit the territory of faith. Believing has been stricken by opposing forces; reduced to a mere step in a legalistic religious system. It is more. It is much more. It is the positive explosion of possibility.
Across the Christian board, leadership and followship have been lured into a "No Try" zone. Fearful of looking foolish, believing has become a careful process of expressing faith concepts without believing them or walking them. Safety has become ruler. Our fundamental goal is to not look bad. Thus, we refrain from stepping beyond the average norm of the church.
When this happens we find ourselves in step with so many others who are also out of step.
Begin in Genesis and read through Jude. Note the bizarre stories of God's common children. These are not presented as VBS themes. No. This is a long string of historical wow-factors intended for our inspiration to beat the dull routine of church-not-on-the-move. And then, just for fun, read Revelation and tell me how you find that book? Ho-hum? Monotonous?
Faith is a bold and dramatic walk. It is not a whim or a mood of taking a stab at it. Faith thinks that what isn't can be. Furthermore, it refuses to bow to the news of hopelessness.
Because God blew death's cover we are set free (even called) to conquer those gnarly passages of life that tend to shut us down. We have a living God and we breathe faith from Him. Let the world know by first notifying your heart that this is not a mundane and average day. This one is God-backed, God-led, and God-supplied.
Now....go out among the crowds looking like you are one happy camper!
Across the Christian board, leadership and followship have been lured into a "No Try" zone. Fearful of looking foolish, believing has become a careful process of expressing faith concepts without believing them or walking them. Safety has become ruler. Our fundamental goal is to not look bad. Thus, we refrain from stepping beyond the average norm of the church.
When this happens we find ourselves in step with so many others who are also out of step.
Begin in Genesis and read through Jude. Note the bizarre stories of God's common children. These are not presented as VBS themes. No. This is a long string of historical wow-factors intended for our inspiration to beat the dull routine of church-not-on-the-move. And then, just for fun, read Revelation and tell me how you find that book? Ho-hum? Monotonous?
Faith is a bold and dramatic walk. It is not a whim or a mood of taking a stab at it. Faith thinks that what isn't can be. Furthermore, it refuses to bow to the news of hopelessness.
Because God blew death's cover we are set free (even called) to conquer those gnarly passages of life that tend to shut us down. We have a living God and we breathe faith from Him. Let the world know by first notifying your heart that this is not a mundane and average day. This one is God-backed, God-led, and God-supplied.
Now....go out among the crowds looking like you are one happy camper!
Sunday, August 09, 2015
TWO FROGS: TED AND HIS BROTHER FRED
Ted and Fred were twin frogs who just loved to play. Both in third grade these two found delight in many of the games at recess. Of course they were most fond of Leap-Frog. But they didn't only play games, they loved duck hunting and swimming.
One day they were diving from the edge of a cream can into a deep pond of milk. They swam about and suddenly Ted went under....and drowned.
Fred was feeling the tug as well. But threatened by that sinking feeling, he began to kick. He kicked and he swam. He swam and he kicked.
Before long, Fred stepped out to safety as he found himself atop a cream can full of butter.
Ever have that sinking feeling? Ever find yourself in circumstances that could place you in over your head? I say keep kicking. Keep swimming. Before long you, too, may find yourself set free as you use the very thing that threatened to sink you to become your very stepping-stone into greater possibility.
One day they were diving from the edge of a cream can into a deep pond of milk. They swam about and suddenly Ted went under....and drowned.
Fred was feeling the tug as well. But threatened by that sinking feeling, he began to kick. He kicked and he swam. He swam and he kicked.
Before long, Fred stepped out to safety as he found himself atop a cream can full of butter.
Ever have that sinking feeling? Ever find yourself in circumstances that could place you in over your head? I say keep kicking. Keep swimming. Before long you, too, may find yourself set free as you use the very thing that threatened to sink you to become your very stepping-stone into greater possibility.
Saturday, August 08, 2015
THE PHAILURE PHENOMENA
Well...maybe it should be spelled THE FAILURE FENOMENA.
As robust as mankind can be, it appears that a great percentage of us are persistently frozen in fear. Why? Because when fear is in the lead our try factor suffers, in turn, wilting our goals by invisible intimidation. How many brilliant inventions provide us luxury because men and women dared to experiment with possibility?
Wright Brothers? Oprah? And do we believe these and others simply lived lives of Midas Touch? No stress like ours? No fears? No fretting at their kitchen tables? These, plus thousands of others, kept probing. They would not give in, give up, nor give out.
I like how Jonas Salk frames the necessity of potential through endurance. I have had dreams and I have had nightmares, but I have conquered my nightmares because of my dreams. Failure is not man's opponent. It is not villainous.
No. Failure is the rake that separates the dead leaves from the living lawn. Think with me on this. Dead leaves left to themselves will smothers our green grass. Or....or....when mulched will become fertilizer to enhance the very thing it was intending to choke.
Failure is always on the side of the visionary. It simply extracts those elements that hinder progress from those which promise wonder. By its very move of dividing, failure is by nature one of our richest blessings. It is always on the side of success.
Weird, huh?
If not alert to nasty threat embedded in failure, one is likely to find potential smothered; choked out. Rather, what we want to do is reverse the negatives; not by eliminating them, but by using them as stepping stones to accomplishment.
The great philosopher Dr. Seuss once said, Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. This is the attitude of gratitude. This perpetuates our discovery that thankfulness transforms imposing forces.
Phailure? The Phenomena of our day! Don't just go through life. Remember to live it!
As robust as mankind can be, it appears that a great percentage of us are persistently frozen in fear. Why? Because when fear is in the lead our try factor suffers, in turn, wilting our goals by invisible intimidation. How many brilliant inventions provide us luxury because men and women dared to experiment with possibility?
Wright Brothers? Oprah? And do we believe these and others simply lived lives of Midas Touch? No stress like ours? No fears? No fretting at their kitchen tables? These, plus thousands of others, kept probing. They would not give in, give up, nor give out.
I like how Jonas Salk frames the necessity of potential through endurance. I have had dreams and I have had nightmares, but I have conquered my nightmares because of my dreams. Failure is not man's opponent. It is not villainous.
No. Failure is the rake that separates the dead leaves from the living lawn. Think with me on this. Dead leaves left to themselves will smothers our green grass. Or....or....when mulched will become fertilizer to enhance the very thing it was intending to choke.
Failure is always on the side of the visionary. It simply extracts those elements that hinder progress from those which promise wonder. By its very move of dividing, failure is by nature one of our richest blessings. It is always on the side of success.
Weird, huh?
If not alert to nasty threat embedded in failure, one is likely to find potential smothered; choked out. Rather, what we want to do is reverse the negatives; not by eliminating them, but by using them as stepping stones to accomplishment.
The great philosopher Dr. Seuss once said, Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. This is the attitude of gratitude. This perpetuates our discovery that thankfulness transforms imposing forces.
Phailure? The Phenomena of our day! Don't just go through life. Remember to live it!
Friday, August 07, 2015
HOW TO CUT BACK ON WORRY
There seems to be a robust economy of worry throughout much of life. Just like vices of over-spending or over-eating, I encourage you to tackle the monster of over-worrying. This has been a significant challenge to me.
Worry is a natural to those of us who feel ill-equipped, under-educated, and out-classed. Those who don't ponder what is lacking or could go wrong just don't understand how exhausting it is to live inside of our heads. Our expertise, at times, is that we can take good news and crush it to death.
Worry started for me early in life. Every last day of grade school I feared I would not be promoted to the next grade. Getting all As, Bs, and Cs, somehow I felt I could soon discover that the others would move ahead without me. Worry. What would mom say? What would it be like being in my younger brother's class?
I carried on like this for years. I was a healthy man crippled in my mind. When anything went wrong, I had already concluded it probably would. I had a reverse sort of vision in that I could imagine what most likely wouldn't work.
But God changed this dilemma. He told me not to worry. What's weird is that I began to believe Him. He knows how to take care of our day. He runs the show. I don't. He is the Expert provider. I am not. God is the Professional supplier. I am not. My job is to believe Him.
Soon I am to go to a special event in St. Louis to honor a dear Cardinal friend of mine. I'm the luckiest person just to be invited by the family. Yet, I can't get information as to where I'm to be and when I'm to be there.
So will I go to St. Louis and ever find these people? Will I arrive only to find zero communication from those in the know? At this moment, all I've got to work from is the schedule of events...with no location nor time. Really? And...I can't seem to get answers.
But...I'm not going to worry. If I find the information, and I'm guessing I will but they are going to surprise me with it, I'll be there ready to go. What, though, if the family doesn't remember to share these significant details? I fully intend to not sweat the small stuff.
Days are brimming with delight. My eyes see wonder. My ears hear conversations. The left side of my body AND my right side still coordinate. Plus...I did get an invitation to this event which is just a pretty big deal!
I hope it goes well. It will. Most likely it will go even better than I had ever imagined....for it usually does. God's call for us to quit worrying? Great, meaningful, lavish advice for the heart.
Everything is a YES...II Corinthians 1:18-20.
Worry is a natural to those of us who feel ill-equipped, under-educated, and out-classed. Those who don't ponder what is lacking or could go wrong just don't understand how exhausting it is to live inside of our heads. Our expertise, at times, is that we can take good news and crush it to death.
Worry started for me early in life. Every last day of grade school I feared I would not be promoted to the next grade. Getting all As, Bs, and Cs, somehow I felt I could soon discover that the others would move ahead without me. Worry. What would mom say? What would it be like being in my younger brother's class?
I carried on like this for years. I was a healthy man crippled in my mind. When anything went wrong, I had already concluded it probably would. I had a reverse sort of vision in that I could imagine what most likely wouldn't work.
But God changed this dilemma. He told me not to worry. What's weird is that I began to believe Him. He knows how to take care of our day. He runs the show. I don't. He is the Expert provider. I am not. God is the Professional supplier. I am not. My job is to believe Him.
Soon I am to go to a special event in St. Louis to honor a dear Cardinal friend of mine. I'm the luckiest person just to be invited by the family. Yet, I can't get information as to where I'm to be and when I'm to be there.
So will I go to St. Louis and ever find these people? Will I arrive only to find zero communication from those in the know? At this moment, all I've got to work from is the schedule of events...with no location nor time. Really? And...I can't seem to get answers.
But...I'm not going to worry. If I find the information, and I'm guessing I will but they are going to surprise me with it, I'll be there ready to go. What, though, if the family doesn't remember to share these significant details? I fully intend to not sweat the small stuff.
Days are brimming with delight. My eyes see wonder. My ears hear conversations. The left side of my body AND my right side still coordinate. Plus...I did get an invitation to this event which is just a pretty big deal!
I hope it goes well. It will. Most likely it will go even better than I had ever imagined....for it usually does. God's call for us to quit worrying? Great, meaningful, lavish advice for the heart.
Everything is a YES...II Corinthians 1:18-20.
Thursday, August 06, 2015
WALKING THE STREET OF GRATITUDE
People keep score. We note when blessed. We can note when insulted. There is but one route to take in order to maintain happiness. This would be to walk the street of gratitude.
Thankfulness could be regarded by some to be a weak, flowery rather no-spine kind of word. Silly old men and Sunday School women would use this term to give a puny word of greeting...sorta. Yet, being thankful is a monster of power to reverse the lives of...well...the lives of each of us.
Gratitude sees possibility when threat approaches. It senses the yes of an incoming no. A thankful person has a relaxed face while the gripey one has the look of a bulldog scowl. Joy changes sour dispositions. Not pills first. Not assignments first. Not running away and hiding first. The sheer self-starting act of determining to be happy in each and every circumstance makes one new day by day.
Many dispositions should and can and will be adjusted by a simple switch in the mind; that one unit we control. Others never make us unhappy. Oh, how it does seem at times that they try. But, we decide whether to move forward or melt. We carry the power to endure or else give up. Others have no military arsenal to force us to regard each kind of moment as anything other than one of mighty happiness.
Filmmaker Roco Belic believes that the shortcut to happiness is gratitude.
At age eighteen he was a part of a group raising funds for war-torn Mozambique. He marveled that the refugees who had lost everything were neither miserable nor angry. Instead they were just beaming with life, ecstatic at the smallest and tiniest things: seeing a ballpoint pen, looking at a magic trick, seeing us run around carrying each other on our shoulders. They had a genuine spark of joy that seemed to be missing in a lot of my friends back home.
Contrastingly, Belic later noted that by living in Hollywood he experienced quite the opposite. Surrounded by talented and very good-looking, healthy movie stars there seemed to be a stark absence of happiness. His conclusion is that these had forgotten the joy value of connection with those around them.
When one walks the streets of gratitude, life unfolds in a most wonderful way. Tensions ease. Hope evolves. Life seems to really live. We get this by having the mind of Christ....I Corinthians 2:14-16.
Thankfulness could be regarded by some to be a weak, flowery rather no-spine kind of word. Silly old men and Sunday School women would use this term to give a puny word of greeting...sorta. Yet, being thankful is a monster of power to reverse the lives of...well...the lives of each of us.
Gratitude sees possibility when threat approaches. It senses the yes of an incoming no. A thankful person has a relaxed face while the gripey one has the look of a bulldog scowl. Joy changes sour dispositions. Not pills first. Not assignments first. Not running away and hiding first. The sheer self-starting act of determining to be happy in each and every circumstance makes one new day by day.
Many dispositions should and can and will be adjusted by a simple switch in the mind; that one unit we control. Others never make us unhappy. Oh, how it does seem at times that they try. But, we decide whether to move forward or melt. We carry the power to endure or else give up. Others have no military arsenal to force us to regard each kind of moment as anything other than one of mighty happiness.
Filmmaker Roco Belic believes that the shortcut to happiness is gratitude.
At age eighteen he was a part of a group raising funds for war-torn Mozambique. He marveled that the refugees who had lost everything were neither miserable nor angry. Instead they were just beaming with life, ecstatic at the smallest and tiniest things: seeing a ballpoint pen, looking at a magic trick, seeing us run around carrying each other on our shoulders. They had a genuine spark of joy that seemed to be missing in a lot of my friends back home.
Contrastingly, Belic later noted that by living in Hollywood he experienced quite the opposite. Surrounded by talented and very good-looking, healthy movie stars there seemed to be a stark absence of happiness. His conclusion is that these had forgotten the joy value of connection with those around them.
When one walks the streets of gratitude, life unfolds in a most wonderful way. Tensions ease. Hope evolves. Life seems to really live. We get this by having the mind of Christ....I Corinthians 2:14-16.
Wednesday, August 05, 2015
ELASTICICITY IN THE CHURCH
Echoes pass through the church corridors. We have heard it; always heard it said. The church no longer stands for anything anymore.
I found that constant assertion to be backed by more bellar than truth. Interpreted, I quickly learned, such a call is not honestly regarding the Word of God. Rather, it is dead-centered upon the preferences of man. But....to many it surely sounded bold, courageous, and necessarily sober.
Today's church landscape is suffering greatly from it's unbiblical inheritance of rigidity. Such didn't come from God; therefore, it cannot bear godly, productive fruit. Barking never stops a passing car.
The place we should be looking is the very place the barking gets the loudest. Anytime the barking decibels increase, there is a good chance we are on to something holy. Change in the church isn't optional. The born-again text of John 3 assures believers that if the Holy Spirit is about anything, He is about the disciples being flexible.
What happens, when a group realizes the need to change, is that the first tendency is to evaluate what needs to be added. A Youth Minister? A remodeled kitchen? Relocation?
Now this is purely my opinion; but since it's my article I give myself the floor.
It seems to me that the change that might help the most churches the quickest would be to eliminate some key works of the church which have become more church-habit rather than Spirit-led. Church leadership is in a glorious fight for progress. I'm sympathetic for I am one. Tradition has always been a church killer. Jesus said as much in Matthew 15:8-9.
I can't speak for other generations trying to serve God in their social climates. This one, however, deeply challenges us. The Word will always remain dominantly current. Our congregational habits, though, may be stuck in a combination of the 50s and the 80s policies.
Some of these were quite bold and cutting-edge in those distant decades. But some of their strategies have faded simply due to a new horizon of both needs and challenges. We would not have a physician nor medical team who stopped learning past those same decades. Truthfully, none of us would stand for it.
The answer would seem to be to possess the bravery of the Spirit to ask Him what needs to change about us? Not only what could we/should we add; but what needs to be stopped?
In our bold stances toward the kingdom system one of the most elementary truths is the urgent and perpetual need for elasticity in the church. It is not uncommon for those of us who want to see the church grow are often the ones who stand in the way.
As I approach this important topic I will be most challenged to watch the beam in my own eye. How about you?
I found that constant assertion to be backed by more bellar than truth. Interpreted, I quickly learned, such a call is not honestly regarding the Word of God. Rather, it is dead-centered upon the preferences of man. But....to many it surely sounded bold, courageous, and necessarily sober.
Today's church landscape is suffering greatly from it's unbiblical inheritance of rigidity. Such didn't come from God; therefore, it cannot bear godly, productive fruit. Barking never stops a passing car.
The place we should be looking is the very place the barking gets the loudest. Anytime the barking decibels increase, there is a good chance we are on to something holy. Change in the church isn't optional. The born-again text of John 3 assures believers that if the Holy Spirit is about anything, He is about the disciples being flexible.
What happens, when a group realizes the need to change, is that the first tendency is to evaluate what needs to be added. A Youth Minister? A remodeled kitchen? Relocation?
Now this is purely my opinion; but since it's my article I give myself the floor.
It seems to me that the change that might help the most churches the quickest would be to eliminate some key works of the church which have become more church-habit rather than Spirit-led. Church leadership is in a glorious fight for progress. I'm sympathetic for I am one. Tradition has always been a church killer. Jesus said as much in Matthew 15:8-9.
I can't speak for other generations trying to serve God in their social climates. This one, however, deeply challenges us. The Word will always remain dominantly current. Our congregational habits, though, may be stuck in a combination of the 50s and the 80s policies.
Some of these were quite bold and cutting-edge in those distant decades. But some of their strategies have faded simply due to a new horizon of both needs and challenges. We would not have a physician nor medical team who stopped learning past those same decades. Truthfully, none of us would stand for it.
The answer would seem to be to possess the bravery of the Spirit to ask Him what needs to change about us? Not only what could we/should we add; but what needs to be stopped?
In our bold stances toward the kingdom system one of the most elementary truths is the urgent and perpetual need for elasticity in the church. It is not uncommon for those of us who want to see the church grow are often the ones who stand in the way.
As I approach this important topic I will be most challenged to watch the beam in my own eye. How about you?
Tuesday, August 04, 2015
WE MUST NEVER WASTE A GOOD FAILURE
Oooh! The darts that fly toward us!
Do this. Try that. Quit those. Stop. Adjust. Think. Leap. Refrain. Decisions, whether presented or pushed, press in upon us perpetually. It is a wonder one can ever relax due to the hard-hitting demands barking at our heels.
It seems that the only time we are permitted to feel good about our day is if it contains victories. Yet, such isn't an accurate assessment. That we learn from our failures is the secret code to success. A pattern of incremental failures is often (if not always) backing the success acquisition.
Do not get discouraged when great intentions flip upside down. Refrain from pity-parties. These tend to be very lonely as well as misguided. If we are going to experience failures --and we will and do--then what we must and can do is transform them into productive energy.
Problems come equipped with secret codes of solution. They always come with a teaching manual. We must learn to stop long enough to read it. What is in this for me to learn? How am I being built for advantage? What might I gain from disruption that will bless a host of others?
Life is full; full of ups and downs. Be challenged. Don't dismiss the negatives for they are packed with rich minerals of potential. You are not in stagnant state; but rather one of flexibility as you mature. Stuff goes wrong for everyone. Yet, we are different when we regard such momentary hiccups in life as blessings.
All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose...Romans 8:28.
We must never waste a good failure.
Do this. Try that. Quit those. Stop. Adjust. Think. Leap. Refrain. Decisions, whether presented or pushed, press in upon us perpetually. It is a wonder one can ever relax due to the hard-hitting demands barking at our heels.
It seems that the only time we are permitted to feel good about our day is if it contains victories. Yet, such isn't an accurate assessment. That we learn from our failures is the secret code to success. A pattern of incremental failures is often (if not always) backing the success acquisition.
Do not get discouraged when great intentions flip upside down. Refrain from pity-parties. These tend to be very lonely as well as misguided. If we are going to experience failures --and we will and do--then what we must and can do is transform them into productive energy.
Problems come equipped with secret codes of solution. They always come with a teaching manual. We must learn to stop long enough to read it. What is in this for me to learn? How am I being built for advantage? What might I gain from disruption that will bless a host of others?
Life is full; full of ups and downs. Be challenged. Don't dismiss the negatives for they are packed with rich minerals of potential. You are not in stagnant state; but rather one of flexibility as you mature. Stuff goes wrong for everyone. Yet, we are different when we regard such momentary hiccups in life as blessings.
All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose...Romans 8:28.
We must never waste a good failure.
Saturday, August 01, 2015
TRY NOT TO WASTE A GOOD PROBLEM
A thing I dearly treasure about the kingdom of God system is that it works upside down and backward to most conventional wisdom. To keep you give away is but one of many of His drastic measures. Another is that to really live one must die to self. Try that one on as well.
If ever a person was found to be defiant in disposition, the kingdom of God is a perfect fit. It dares to break the code of routine and thoughtless dailiness. And don't you know God seems to enjoy it as well. What He calls faith in Hebrews 11 we seem to have possibly undermined that very word for our walk. No. We don't call those moves faith. We call them miracles.
Within that faith chapter story-lines are built on a consistent thread of premise. A person is faced with a problem and believes God not only has the solution; but believes God will provide it as well. In this entire glorious chapter, not one believer wasted a good problem.
If we believers in God are found to be whiners, moaners, and complainers, no wonder the community brushes us off as fake. Our problem is not that Jesus has no affect on our neighbors. Our problem is that we waste good problems by failing to see that God works precisely in these conditions to show His valiant skills.
So what do we do with legitimate problems (for they do exist in abundance among us)? How do we not waste them?
We faithfully move about believing everything is working for good (Romans 5:1-5, 8:28). We are not on earth to build personal empires. We are here to love God and others. Our authentic world is about those two entities. What happens to us, then, has two-fold meaning; (1) what a stage to praise God and (2) what a moment to learn how others hurt so that we can better serve them in their stresses.
Some of the harshest and most disastrous moments in my history have proven to give me deeper and more sensitive understanding toward those who sit in my office overwhelmed by stresses. We are advantaged by struggles to be more effective in assisting the next oncoming struggler.
Pain and suffering and perplexity are not about us. They are always about lessons to be learned in order to help our neighbor. So, dear and kind friend, don't waste a good problem. But go to school on it.
Learn. Adjust. Before long, one may ring your doorbell with their new problem. And you will be able to coach them to take a look at such from the hillside of being blessed in order to help their neighbors as well.
If ever a person was found to be defiant in disposition, the kingdom of God is a perfect fit. It dares to break the code of routine and thoughtless dailiness. And don't you know God seems to enjoy it as well. What He calls faith in Hebrews 11 we seem to have possibly undermined that very word for our walk. No. We don't call those moves faith. We call them miracles.
Within that faith chapter story-lines are built on a consistent thread of premise. A person is faced with a problem and believes God not only has the solution; but believes God will provide it as well. In this entire glorious chapter, not one believer wasted a good problem.
If we believers in God are found to be whiners, moaners, and complainers, no wonder the community brushes us off as fake. Our problem is not that Jesus has no affect on our neighbors. Our problem is that we waste good problems by failing to see that God works precisely in these conditions to show His valiant skills.
So what do we do with legitimate problems (for they do exist in abundance among us)? How do we not waste them?
We faithfully move about believing everything is working for good (Romans 5:1-5, 8:28). We are not on earth to build personal empires. We are here to love God and others. Our authentic world is about those two entities. What happens to us, then, has two-fold meaning; (1) what a stage to praise God and (2) what a moment to learn how others hurt so that we can better serve them in their stresses.
Some of the harshest and most disastrous moments in my history have proven to give me deeper and more sensitive understanding toward those who sit in my office overwhelmed by stresses. We are advantaged by struggles to be more effective in assisting the next oncoming struggler.
Pain and suffering and perplexity are not about us. They are always about lessons to be learned in order to help our neighbor. So, dear and kind friend, don't waste a good problem. But go to school on it.
Learn. Adjust. Before long, one may ring your doorbell with their new problem. And you will be able to coach them to take a look at such from the hillside of being blessed in order to help their neighbors as well.
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